Cognitive Function and Emotional Possessing in Bilateral Facial Palsy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Based on recent findings that botulinum toxin injections in the cranial muscles might reduce emotional processing (Havas 2011), an increasing number of popular newspaper tabloids are suggesting a negative effect on cognition. The underlying research articles address the facial feedback hypothesis. The hypothesis indicates that expressive behaviour, including facial mimic expressions influences the subject's brain via feedback. (Alam 2008) Other systemic neurological diseases, e.g of inflammatory origin, may lead to temporary bilateral facial nerve palsy (BF). During recovery process, the palsy usually remits completely. The effect of bilateral facial muscle palsy on cognition and emotional possessing has never been evaluated. The results of this pilot study might provide new information about the effect bilateral facial palsy on emotional processing and cognition and the facial feedback hypothesis. The aim of this controlled pilot study is to assess cognitive function and emotional processing in patients with bilateral facial palsy. In addition, differences in cognitive function and emotional processing in patients with different manifestations of dystonia should be evaluated. According to the facial feedback theory, paralysed mimic muscles might alter emotional processing. Therefore, investigators compare patients with bilateral facial muscle palsy and healthy controls. Investigators expect no influence of facial muscle palsy on cognitive functions in any of the tested groups; the investigators expect a mild impairment of emotional processing only in the patients group with bilateral facial muscle palsy (BEB and BF). In addition, the investigators expect no difference in emotional processing in patients with different manifestations of dystonia (BEB and CD) at remission. There might be a slight difference of emotional processing in patients with different manifestations of dystonia (BEB and CD) at time of prominent facial palsy.

Official Title
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Pilot Study Assessing Cognitive Function and Emotional Possessing in Patients With Bilateral Facial Palsy

Conditions
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Emotion, Intelligence

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patients: willing to participate in this pilot trial bilateral facial palsy age 18-80 years Control: willing to participate in this pilot trial age, gender and education (duration of school attendance) matched and/or cervical dystonia Exclusion Criteria: neurological or psychiatric comorbidity psychotropic drugs

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Blepharospasm<br>Patients suffering from Blepharospasm | |
| Cervical Dystonia<br>Patients suffering from cervical dystonia | |
| Bilateral facial palsy<br>Patients suffering from bilateral facial palsy of inflammatory origin | |
| Healthy Control<br>Control subjects | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| I-S-T-2000R- (intelligence-structure-test 2000R) | Test to evaluate Intelligence Subtest Matrixes Subtest Analogies | up to four weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beck's depression-inventory-II | Evaluation of depression (BDI-II; Hautzinger et al., 2009) | up to four weeks | 
| Apathy Evaluation Scale | Evaluation of apathy (AES; Luecken et al., 2006) | up to four weeks |