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As I was browsing through a host of anti-aging related topics, I stumbled across this article in Psychology Today. As a practitioner and proponent of holistic anti-aging, I find this topic, "Does Botox Blunt Emotions," extremely intriguing.
The article begins to explore the link between our ability to make facial expressions and our capacity to experience a full range of emotions. It posits the question, if we are unable to fully use our facial muscles to complete a particular expression, are we then unable to fully feel the extent of that associated emotion? The article suggests that facial muscle movement is associated with the release of certain neurotransmitters that are responsible for creating the experience of emotions. This is referred to as the "Facial Feedback Hypothesis".
Another theory the author of the article discusses is that of "Mimicry". This theory is based on the idea that we automatically tend to mimic the emotions of those with whom we interact, so that when someone smiles at us and we smile back, we experience a similar emotion. This is especially the case with infants. When a mother smiles at her baby, the baby mimics the expression and so feels the emotion of joy. This begs the question, if the mother is unable to fully smile or frown, will the baby then not be able to register the extent of the intended emotion?
As stated in the article, the science surrounding the theories of "Mimicry" and "Facial Feedback Hypothesis" is new. However, studies are beginning to show evidence of differences in brain chemistry when experiencing emotions in people who have had procedures such as Botox and Restilyn injections. Although at this point no definitive conclusions can be made, scientists do conclude that SOMETHING happening in regards to emotional experience, and that this is a subject that warrents further examination. I intend on keeping a close eye on the science as new studies emerge, and in the mean time, continue to make the case for natural anti-aging treatments.
XOXO,
GGC