Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2025
19:53
Single-stage Dynamic Reanimation of the Smile in Irreversible Facial Paralysis by Free Functional Muscle Transfer
Published on: March 1, 2015
106.0K
Emotional Training After Facial Nerve Palsy: Let's Smile Again!
Fabrizio Gervasoni1, Antonella LoMauro2, Vincenzo Ricci1
1District Municipality 2, Asst Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Viale don Luigi Orione, Milan, Italy.
Neurorehabilitation
|May 28, 2025
Summary
Emotional training (ET) effectively treats facial nerve palsy by improving facial symmetry and function. This neurocognitive approach, using motor imagery and sensory stimulation, offers significant patient well-being benefits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Peripheral facial nerve palsy significantly impacts quality of life.
- Current treatments for facial nerve palsy have limitations.
- Novel neurocognitive approaches are needed for effective rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose Emotional Training (ET) as a neurocognitive rehabilitation strategy for peripheral facial nerve palsy.
- To evaluate the efficacy of ET in improving facial function and patient-reported outcomes.
- To compare ET with existing surgical protocols.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, observational, double-center cohort study involving 50 patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy.
- Facial function assessed using House-Brackmann scale (HBS), Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (FGS), and Italian Facial Disability Index (It-FDI).
- Comparison with a control group of 8 surgical patients.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements observed in HBS, FGS, and It-FDI scores after ET (p < 0.001).
- Patients achieved near-normal facial function post-treatment.
- No significant difference in outcomes between ET and surgical control group.
Conclusions:
- Emotional Training (ET) significantly enhances facial symmetry, motor function, and subjective well-being in patients with facial nerve palsy.
- ET is an effective therapeutic option for both idiopathic and iatrogenic facial nerve palsy.
- ET represents a promising neurocognitive approach for facial nerve rehabilitation.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Cranial Nerves: Types Part I
3.2K
Cranial nerves are responsible for transmitting motor and sensory information between the brain and various parts of the body. There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves, with the first six being essential in sensory perception, motor control, and autonomic functions related to the head and neck.
Olfactory Nerve (Cranial Nerve I)
The olfactory nerve, or cranial nerve I, is unique as it is purely sensory and dedicated to the sense of smell. This nerve originates in the olfactory epithelium of the...
Olfactory Nerve (Cranial Nerve I)
The olfactory nerve, or cranial nerve I, is unique as it is purely sensory and dedicated to the sense of smell. This nerve originates in the olfactory epithelium of the...
3.2K
01:22Cranial Nerves: Types Part II
2.9K
Cranial nerves are responsible for transmitting motor and sensory information between the brain and various parts of the body. There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves. While the first six innervate the head and neck, the latter six nerves innervate the head and neck, as well as organs and tissues in the thoracic and abdominal cavities. They facilitate communication, expression, and autonomic control within the human body.
Facial Nerve (Cranial Nerve VII)
Cranial nerve VII, or the facial nerve,...
Facial Nerve (Cranial Nerve VII)
Cranial nerve VII, or the facial nerve,...
2.9K
01:14Muscles for Facial Expressions
2.8K
The craniofacial muscles are a collection of approximately 20 thin skeletal muscles situated beneath the skin of the face and scalp. These muscles, primarily responsible for the vast array of human facial expressions, originate from the bones or fibrous structures of the skull and extend outwards to connect with the skin. While most skeletal muscles in the body are enveloped in thick fascia, facial muscles generally have a more delicate fascial covering, with the buccinator muscle being a...
2.8K
01:20Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
158
Emotion-focused coping refers to a set of strategies aimed at managing the emotional impact of stressors, rather than directly addressing their causes. This approach involves altering one's emotional response to stressful situations to reduce their psychological effects. For example, individuals might talk with a friend or engage in activities like journaling to express their feelings. Such actions can help achieve emotional clarity or release, providing the psychological stability needed...
158
01:24Facial Feedback Hypothesis
256
Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role...
256
01:24Prosopagnosia
286
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...
286