Approach-Attitude and rTMs on left DLPFC affect emotional face recognition and facial feedback (EMG)

Objective: Empathic trait (Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale, BEES) and emotional attitude (Behavior Activation System BAS) were supposed to modulate emotional face recognition, based on left dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPFC) cortex contribution. Methods High empathic trait (high-BEES) were compared with low-empathic trait (low-BEES), when detection performance and autonomic facial activity (electromyogram, EMG, i.e.zygomatic and corrugators muscle activity) were analyzed. Moreover, the implication of the left DLPFC was tested by using low-frequency rTMS Results: EMG and behavioural responses were found to be modulated by BEES and BAS, with a decreased performance and a reduced autonomic responsiveness for high-BEES and high-BAS in the case of TMS on left DLPFC. Secondly, an emotion-specific effect was found: the DLPFC eff ect was observed for the positive emotion (happiness) more than the negative emotions (anger and fear) with a decreased performance (lower AI and higher RTs) and a decreased zygomatic muscle activity. Finally, a direct correlation was found between BEES and BAS Conclusions: These results suggest signifi cant eff ect by empathic and emotional attitude component on both EMG and behavioral level in emotional face recognition. Key Message: The lateralization (left) eff ect was discussed at light of the valence model of emotions.