Cognitive Function and Emotional Possessing in Bilateral Facial Palsy

Kirsten Elwischger, MD

Status: Completed

Conditions: Emotion; Intelligence

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02179450

Cognition_Facial palsy

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 84 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

84 participants in 4 patient groups

Blepharospasm

Description:

Patients suffering from Blepharospasm

Cervical Dystonia

Description:

Patients suffering from cervical dystonia

Bilateral facial palsy

Description:

Patients suffering from bilateral facial palsy of inflammatory origin

Healthy Control

Description:

Control subjects