Positive affect predicts improved lip movement in facial movement disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Positive affect in individuals with a facial movement disorder may promote lip corner movement (zygomaticus major) during smiling. We investigated whether a positive affect marker (orbicularis oculi activity) observed in an initial clinic visit of individuals with facial movement disorder (N = 28) predicted increased lip corner movement at a subsequent visit.


METHODS
In this clinical outcomes study, lip corner movement was assessed with the use of automated facial analysis. Asymmetry of movement was compared in individuals who smiled with or without the positive affect marker at an initial clinic visit.


RESULTS
The positive affect marker at the initial visit was associated with a reduction in the asymmetry of the lip corner movement at the second visit.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive affect predicts improved facial movement outcomes in patients with facial movement disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Positive emotion in facial movement patients may be an important factor in recovery of facial movement during therapy.
Merkel
Kathryn E
KE
Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
Schmidt
Karen L
KL
Levenstein
Rachel M
RM
VanSwearingen
Jessie M
JM
Bentley
Barbara C
BC
D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001290:Attitude; D004644:Emotions; D005146:Facial Asymmetry / Q000503:physiopathology; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008046:Lip / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012904:Smiling / Q000502:physiology; D014743:Videotape Recording