Shock research shows that Botox injections can disrupt brain activity associated with recognizing emotions

According to research, Botox injections can impair the ability to recognize the feelings of others.

In a study that examined happy and sad faces, participants who received the anti-aging injections had altered brain activity in emotional areas.

Each year around 900,000 Britons get botox injections, which involve injecting a substance called botulinum toxin into areas of the face such as the forehead, eyes and mouth. This procedure relaxes the muscles under the skin by blocking the nerve signals that cause them to contract and smooth wrinkles.

However, it can also affect an individual’s ability to express emotion with facial expressions.

In the study, University of California scientists and researchers at Botox maker AbbVie performed brain scans on 10 women before Botox injections in their foreheads and again two to three weeks later. During the scans, participants had to try to identify anger and joy in pictures of faces.

Experts say the study’s results show that the inability to smile or frown, which can be a result of Botox, also affects how people read other faces

Results showed that after Botox, activity in brain regions involved in emotional processing, such as the amygdala and fusiform gyrus, was altered.

Experts say the study’s results show that the inability to smile or frown, which can be a result of Botox, also affects how people read other faces.

Speaking to New Scientist magazine, Dr. Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos, a researcher in human cognition at the University of South Australia, says mimicking expressions helps us recognize them — our facial muscles unconsciously copy each other’s frowns or smiles before sending signals to areas of the brain which interprets the emotions. Since Botox restricts this movement, it is disrupted.

“You may not be able to experience someone else’s emotions as intensely or vividly as you would like,” he added.

Dr. Tijion Esho, who provides the injections at the Esho Clinic, said: “There is no doubt that Botox manipulates emotional communication. Some people like to make their faces less expressive for work – they believe it will make seniors take them more seriously.

“We relate to others based on what we see in ourselves. If you can’t see or feel your frown or smile, it makes perfect sense that you would have a hard time seeing it in others.”