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Related Experiment Video

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Single-stage Dynamic Reanimation of the Smile in Irreversible Facial Paralysis by Free Functional Muscle Transfer

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Published on: March 1, 2015

Predictive and reactive mechanisms in smile reciprocity.

Erin A Heerey¹, Helen M Crossley

¹School of Psychology, Bangor University, Wales. e.heerey@bangor.ac.uk

Psychological Science

|June 8, 2013

Summary

People predictively mimic genuine smiles, but only reactively mimic polite smiles, suggesting genuine smiles are more rewarding. This research explores social prediction and reinforcement learning in face-to-face interactions.

Keywords:

electrophysiology prediction reciprocity reward learning rewards smiles social interaction

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Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

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Published on: December 31, 2013

Area of Science:

Social Neuroscience
Cognitive Psychology
Behavioral Economics

Background:

Humans often reciprocate smiles during face-to-face interactions.
The mechanisms distinguishing responses to genuine versus polite smiles are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of predictive mechanisms in smile reciprocity.
To explore whether reinforcement learning underlies differential responses to genuine and polite smiles.

Main Methods:

Study 1: Analyzed smile anticipation in natural interactions.
Study 2: Used a learning task with genuine/polite smile rewards and measured facial muscle activity (electromyography - EMG).

Main Results:

Participants predicted genuine smiles but not polite ones in natural interactions.
EMG data revealed predictive responding to genuine smiles, but reactive responding to polite smiles.
Genuine smiles were found to be more rewarding, driving predictive social responding.

Conclusions:

Anticipating social rewards, particularly from genuine smiles, drives predictive social behavior.
Reinforcement learning mechanisms likely underpin the prediction of social rewards.
These findings advance the understanding of neural control in real-world social interactions.