The effects of self-relevance vs. reward value on facial mimicry

• DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2020.103193
• Publication Date: 2020-11-02T00:07:35Z
• Authors: Paul A.G. Forbes; Sebastian Korb; Alexandra Radloff; Claus Lamm
• Keywords: Moderation; Relevance; Affect; Value (mathematics); Facial electromyography

Facial mimicry is a ubiquitous social behaviour modulated by range of cues, including those related to reward value and self-relevance. However, previous research has typically focused on single moderator at time, it remains unknown how moderators interact when studied together. We compared the influence self-relevance, conditioning participants associate certain faces with winning or losing money for themselves, or, another person. After conditioning, watched videos these making happy angry facial expressions whilst we recorded electromyographic activity. found greater smile (activation Zygomaticus Major muscle) in response performed associated participants' own outcomes vs. person's outcomes. In contrast research, whether face was did not modulate responses. These results, although preliminary, suggest that are both self-relevance value, could supersede impact during mimicry.