Electromyographic responses to emotional facial expressions in 6–7 year olds: A feasibility study

Preliminary studies have demonstrated that school-aged children (average age 9–10 years) show mimicry responses to happy and angry facial expressions. The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of using facial electromyography (EMG) as a method to study facial mimicry responses in younger children aged 6–7 years to emotional facial expressions of other children. Facial EMG activity to the presentation of dynamic emotional faces was recorded from the corrugator, zygomaticus, frontalis and depressor muscle in sixty-one healthy participants aged 6–7 years. Results showed that the presentation of angry faces was associated with corrugator activation and zygomaticus relaxation, happy faces with an increase in zygomaticus and a decrease in corrugator activation, fearful faces with frontalis activation, and sad faces with a combination of corrugator and frontalis activation. This study demonstrates the feasibility of measuring facial EMG response to emotional facial expressions in 6–7 year old children.

► Studies in school-aged children show mimicry in response to happy and angry faces. ► This study explored facial mimicry to a wider range of emotions in 6–7 year olds. ► We recorded facial electromyographic activity (EMG) from 4 muscles in 61 children. ► Facial EMG feasibly assesses responses to emotional expressions in 6–7 year olds.