The study, led by researchers at Cardiff University, found people with facial paralysis, people seeing others who wear face masks, or even children sucking on dummies, could struggle to show empathy or detect positive social cues.

 

"People tend to automatically imitate others' facial expressions of emotion when looking at them, whether that be a smile, a frown, or a smirk. This facial mimicry -- where the brain recreates and mirrors the emotional experience of the other person -- affects how we empathise with others and interact socially," said lead author Dr Ross Vanderwert, from Cardiff University's School of Psychology.

 

"Our study suggests that when the movements of the lower part of the face are disrupted or hidden, this can be problematic, particularly for positive social interactions and the ability to share emotions.

 

"Wearing a face mask continues to be vital to protect ourselves and others during the Covid-19 pandemic -- but our research suggests this may have important implications for the way we communicate and interact," Vanderwert added.

 

For the study, published in the journal Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience, the team recorded the brain activity of 38 individuals via an electroencephalogram whilst they watched videos of fearful, happy, and angry expressions, as well as a collection of inanimate everyday objects, as a control.