Simulation models of facial expressions suggest that posterior visual areas and brain areas underpinning sensorimotor simulations might interact to improve facial expression processing. According to these models, facial mimicry may contribute to the visual perceptual processing of facial expressions by influencing early stages of face processing, thus playing a crucial role in understanding the observed emotion . The aim of the present study was to assess whether and how early sensorimotor simulation influences face structural encoding/ processing. A secondary aim was to investigate whether there is a relationship between alexithymic traits and sensorimotor simulation as a mechanism for fine facial expression discrimination. In order to examine the time-course of face processing, we monitored P1 and N170 components of the event-related potentials (ERP) in participants performing a fine discrimination task of facial expressions . An animal discrimination task was implemented as a control condition. In half of the experiment, participants could freely use their facial mimicry whereas , in the other half, they had their facial mimicry blocked by a gel. Our results revealed that the P1 ERP component was not modulated by the mimicry manipulation while the N170 amplitude was larger in the blocked mimicry condition when compared to the free mimicry condition selectively for the face stimuli. Interestingly, this modulation interacted with the alexithymic traits, with a reduction of the N170 amplitude modulation as a function of the facial mimicry manipulationfor participants with the highest levels of alexithymic traits. These results demonstrate that sensorimotor simulation influences visual processing of facial expressions at early stages and that participants with higher alexithymic traits tend to underutilize the sensorimotor simulation system .
Simulation models of facial expressions suggest that posterior visual areas and brain areas underpinning sensorimotor simulations might interact to improve facial expression processing. According to these models, facial mimicry may contribute to the visual processing of facial expressions by influencing early stages . The aim of the present study was to assess whether / how early sensorimotor simulation influences early stages of face processing. A secondary aim was to investigate the relationship between alexithymic traits and sensorimotor simulation . We monitored P1 and N170 components of the event-related potentials (ERP) in participants performing a fine discrimination task of facial expressions while implementing an animal discrimination task as control condition. In half of the experiment, participants could freely use their facial mimicry whereas in the other half, they had their facial mimicry blocked by a gel. Our results revealed that , on average, both P1 and N170 ERP components were not sensitive to mimicry manipulation. However, when taking into account alexithymic traits, a scenario corroborating sensorimotor simulation models emerged, with two dissociable temporal windows affected by mimicry manipulation as a function of alexithymia levels. Specifically, as a function of mimicry manipulation, individuals with lower alexithymic traits showed modulations of the P1 amplitude, while individuals with higher alexithymic traits showed modulations of the later N170). Furthermore, connectivity analysis at the scalp level suggested increased connectivity between sensorimotor and extrastriate visual regions in individuals with lower alexithymic traits compared to individuals with higher alexithymic traits. Overall, we interpreted these ERPs modulations as compensative visual processing under conditions of interference on the sensorimotor processing .
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mimicry manipulation, individuals with lower alexithymic traits showed modulations of the P1 amplitude, while individuals with higher alexithymic traits showed modulations of the later N170). Furthermore, connectivity analysis at the scalp level suggested increased connectivity between sensorimotor and extrastriate visual regions in individuals with lower alexithymic traits compared to individuals with higher alexithymic traits. Overall, we interpreted these ERPs modulations as compensative visual processing under conditions of interference on the sensorimotor processing