Vigilance is key. Botox injected into the forehead is said to alter people’s brain chemistry, impacting how they interpret the emotions of others.
Effective in freezing the effects of time, Botox is increasingly used. But beyond the rejuvenation that it can bring, it would have certain undesirable effects. According to a new study published in Scientific Reports, and relayed by the New York Post, Botox injected into the forehead changed people’s brain chemistry, impacting how they interpreted the emotions of others. Concretely, when a person expresses joy or anger, we unconsciously contract certain muscles of our face to simulate this same expression and thus better understand it. But this mirror effect might be wrong because of Botox.
Researchers from the University of California, Irvine and AbbVie, a biotech company that makes Botox, performed functional magnetic resonance imaging scans on 10 women between the ages of 33 and 40. Brain scans were taken both before the women received the injections in the forehead and once more, two to three weeks following, to compare the brain’s reactions to the emotional images.
altered brain activity
During both scans, images of happy, angry and neutral faces were shown to these women. They were then asked to interpret the emotion expressed. The researchers found that following receiving Botox, the women’s brain activity was altered in their amygdala (a part of the brain responsible for processing emotions) and in the fusiform gyrus (a part of the temporal cortex that helps with recognition objects and faces).
For the authors of the study, the temporary paralysis of the facial muscles caused by Botox may well hinder a person’s ability to reflect the emotions expressed in front of them, thus altering the chemistry of their brain when they try to interpret the emotions. .
As a reminder, Botox is a product that temporarily reduces or eliminates fine lines and wrinkles on the face. It is commonly used to reduce the appearance of frown lines, forehead folds and crow’s feet near the eyes. Botox injections have increased 459% since 2000, becoming the most common minimally invasive cosmetic procedure.
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