Temporal dynamics of error-related corrugator supercilii and zygomaticus major activity: Evidence for implicit emotion regulation following errors

Images of pleasant scenes usually produce increased activity over the zygomaticus major muscle, as measured by electromyography (EMG), while less activity is elicited by unpleasant images. However, increases in zygomaticus major EMG activity while viewing unpleasant images have occasionally been reported in the literature on affective facial expression (i.e., “grimacing”). To examine the possibility that individual differences in emotion regulation might be responsible for this inconsistently observed phenomenon, the habitual emotion regulation tendencies of 63 participants (32 women) were assessed and categorized according to their regulatory tendencies. Participants viewed emotionally salient images while zygomaticus major EMG activity was recorded. Participants also provided self-report ratings of their experienced emotional valence and arousal while viewing the pictures. Despite demonstrating intact affective ratings, the “grimacing” pattern of zygomaticus major activity was observed in those who were less likely to use the cognitive reappraisal strategy to regulate their emotions.

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Facial Muscles Reactions to Other Person’s Facial Expressions of Pain

Psichologija ◽

10.15388/psichol.2021.24 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 63 ◽

pp. 24-39

Author(s):

Algimantas Švegžda ◽

Rytis Stanikūnas ◽

Kristina Augustinaitė ◽

Remigijus Bliumas ◽

Henrikas Vaitkevičius

Keyword(s):

Facial Expressions ◽

Emotional Expression ◽

Facial Pain ◽

Stimulus Presentation ◽

Time Interval ◽

Major Activity ◽

Corrugator Supercilii ◽

Pain Expression ◽

Muscle Groups ◽

Zygomaticus Major

The aim of this study was to record facial electromiograms (EMG) while subjects were viewing facial expressions of different pain levels (no-pain, medium pain and very painful) and to find objective criteria for measuring pain expressed in human’s face. The study involved 18 students with age 21 years. The magnitude of the EMG response of m. corrugator supercilii depended on voluntary performed facial pain expression in the subjects. EMG responses of voluntary performed facial pain expressions to mirrored pain reactions were detected at two time span intervals: 200–300 ms after stimulation in m. zygomaticus major, and 400–500 ms after stimulation in m. corrugator supercilii. These differences disappear after 1300 ms. In the second time interval, differences in EMG responses of both muscle groups occur 1600 ms after stimulus presentation, but disappear differently: 3100 ms after stimulation in m. zygomaticus major and 4000 ms in m. corrugator supercilii. Constant responding with “medium pain” expression when recognizing faces of different pain expressions have an effect on the voluntary EMG responses of individual subjects. Images with emotional expression “no pain” reduce m. corrugator supercilii activity and increase m. zygomaticus major activity for those observers.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of The temporal dynamics of emotion regulation: an EEG study of distraction and reappraisal.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.9233956.9845054 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Aina Puce ◽

Elizabeth daSilva

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Temporal Dynamics

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Testing whether implicit emotion regulation mediates the association between discrimination and symptoms of psychopathology in late childhood: An RDoC perspective

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579421000638 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

T.G. Vargas ◽

V.A. Mittal

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Emotion Regulation ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Inhibitory Control ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Neurocognitive Functions ◽

Units Of Analysis ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

Implicit Emotion Regulation ◽

Multiple Units

Abstract Discrimination has been associated with adverse mental health outcomes, though it is unclear how early in life this association becomes apparent. Implicit emotion regulation, developing during childhood, is a foundational skill tied to a range of outcomes. Implicit emotion regulation has yet to be tested as an associated process for mental illness symptoms that can often emerge during this sensitive developmental period. Youth aged 9–11 were recruited for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. Associations between psychotic-like experiences, depressive symptoms, and total discrimination (due to race, ethnicity, nationality, weight, or sexual minority status) were tested, as well as associations with implicit emotion regulation measures (emotional updating working memory and inhibitory control). Analyses examined whether associations with symptoms were mediated by implicit emotion regulation. Discrimination related to decreased implicit emotion regulation performance, and increased endorsement of depressive symptoms and psychotic-like experiences. Emotional updating working memory performance partially mediated the association between discrimination and psychotic-like experiences, while emotional inhibitory control did not. Discrimination and implicit emotion regulation could serve as putative transdiagnostic markers of vulnerability. Results support the utility of using multiple units of analysis to improve understanding of complex emerging neurocognitive functions and developmentally sensitive periods.

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Putting Feelings Into Words: Affect Labeling as Implicit Emotion Regulation

Emotion Review ◽

10.1177/1754073917742706 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 116-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Jared B. Torre ◽

Matthew D. Lieberman

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Regulatory Process ◽

Emotional Experiences ◽

Affect Labeling ◽

Implicit Emotion Regulation

Putting feelings into words, or “affect labeling,” can attenuate our emotional experiences. However, unlike explicit emotion regulation techniques, affect labeling may not even feel like a regulatory process as it occurs. Nevertheless, research investigating affect labeling has found it produces a pattern of effects like those seen during explicit emotion regulation, suggesting affect labeling is a form of implicit emotion regulation. In this review, we will outline research on affect labeling, comparing it to reappraisal, a form of explicit emotion regulation, along four major domains of effects—experiential, autonomic, neural, and behavioral—that establish it as a form of implicit emotion regulation. This review will then speculate on possible mechanisms driving affect labeling effects and other remaining unanswered questions.

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