Shock research finds Botox injections can interfere with brain activity connected to recognizing emotions

Daily Mail ^

[algore]

Botox injections could impair the ability to recognise others’ feelings, research suggests.

In a study that involved looking at happy and sad faces, the participants who’d had the anti-ageing injections had altered brain activity in areas related to emotion.

In the study, scientists at the University of California and researchers from Botox-makers AbbVie performed brain scans on ten women before Botox injections in the forehead and again two to three weeks later. During the scans, participants had to attempt to recognise anger and happiness on photographs of faces.

Results revealed that after the Botox there was altered activity in brain areas involved with emotional processing, such as the amygdala and fusiform gyrus.

Experts say the findings of the study show that the inability to smile or frown, which can be a result of Botox, also effects how individuals read other faces.

Speaking to New Scientist magazine, Dr Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos, researcher in human cognition at the University of South Australia, explained that mimicking expressions helps us to recognise them – our facial muscles unconsciously copy the other person’s frown or smile before sending signals to the areas of the brain that interpret the emotions. As Botox restricts this movement, this is disrupted.

‘You might not be able to experience someone else’s emotions as intensely or vividly as you would like to,’ he added.

Tijon Esho, who offers the jabs at The Esho Clinic, said: ‘There’s no doubt Botox manipulates emotional communication. Some people want to make their face less expressive for work – they think it makes seniors take them more seriously.

‘We relate to others based on what we see in ourselves. If you can’t see or feel yourself frown or smile, it makes perfect sense that you’ll struggle to see it in others.’

[minnesota_bound]

Tv host Kelly Ripa says people were telling her she did not look the same when she started using botox.
She herself said when she was smiling no one could see her doing so.

The botox is in many beauty products now and advertised not as botox but anti wrinkle cream.
When the person stops the botox the face will be even more wrinkled then if they had not used it at all.

[neverevergiveup]

That's not what I'm saying. There are many ways in which injections and even infections of areas in the face and head can enter the CNS. What I'm saying is that this particular ‘study’ is too uncontrolled and small to make any definitive statements about Botox injections.

My general feeling is that Botox injections, ‘filler’ injections, and a number of ‘cosmetic’ procedures are potentially dangerous - particularly since many are done by marginally trained people. The search for beauty can be lethal.

[stanne]

Agree

[21twelve]

“I’m shocked I tell ya, shocked.”

You don’t even need botox for that - just those goofy painted on eyebrows to give that expression.

[trebb]

Not to mention that the “Tox” part tells you it’s a poison...

[dforest]

Perfect example. Add too many anti depressants too.