Work

Blepharospasm as a research model for understanding the perception of facial expressions

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Recognizing human emotions, a pivotal evolutionary advantage in interpersonal interactions, relies extensively on interpreting facial expressions. Sensorimotor models propose that the neural circuits responsible for generating facial expressions may be reactivated during their perception, potentially implicating "mirror neurons". While disruptions in these circuits are known to impair emotional recognition, the precise neural mechanisms involved remain elusive. Objectives This study examined whether blepharospasm - a cranial dystonia affecting cortical and subcortical facial motor circuits, particularly those controlling the eyelids, disrupts the recognition of emotions conveyed through facial expressions, especially via the eyes. Methods Twenty individuals with blepharospasm (PTS) and 20 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls (CON) completed two emotion recognition tasks: (1) recognition from the eyes (Baron-Cohen task; BC), and (2) recognition from whole-body postures (BEAST). Results A significant Task × Group interaction (F(1,38) =7.38, p=.010) and a higher BEAST/BC performance ratio in patients (1.30 vs. 1.01; p=.006) indicated a selective impairment in recognizing emotions from the eyes, while recognition from body language remained intact. Conclusions This study demonstrates a selective impairment in emotion recognition through the eyes in individuals with blepharospasm, linking motor dysfunction in a specific facial region to deficits in perceiving emotional cues conveyed by that same region in others. These findings underscore the role of facial motor circuits in emotion perception and offer new insights into the embodied neural mechanisms underlying affect recognition.

Source: Acta Psychologica

DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106751

Authors: Dor Bloch, Vered Livneh, Semion Korenblum, Roy N. Alcalay, Tanya Gurevich, Iftah Biran

Institutions: Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Columbia University

Language: English

Topic: Face Recognition and Perception

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,670