Empathy, Approach Attitude, and rTMs on Left DLPFC Affect Emotional Face Recognition and Facial Feedback (EMG)

Abstract. 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. High-empathic trait (high-BEES) was compared with low-empathic trait (low-BEES), when detection performance (Accuracy Index; Response Times [RTs]) and 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 (repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) to induce a decreased response to facial expression of emotions when subjects (N = 46) were required to empathize with the emotional stimuli. EMG and behavioral responses were found to be modulated by BEES and BAS, with a decreased performance and a reduced facial responsiveness in response to happiness for high-BEES and high-BAS in the case of TMS on left DLPFC. Secondly, an emotion-specif...