Botox Inhibits Facial Mirroring, Empathy

Neuroscience explains how botox injections not only relax your face, but change the way you respond to other people's emotions. In order to empathize with the feelings of others, you unconsciously mirror another person's facial expressions, which causes your brain to register the reflected emotions. If your muscles have been paralyzed with botox, these pathways to empathy won't work. That's not to say that you'll lose all your empathy, because there are other neurological mechanisms at work, but it's something to consider if you want to try botox for social reasons.




You can watch the relevant segment of The Brain series with David Eagleman on YouTube...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Tabh2Z5PI

There are many arguments for and against getting botox, including photos of people who look either better or worse following botox treatments, and stories of people who claimed that botox either helped them or harmed them. My point is simply that if your job and relationships depend on your ability to "read" people, then botox may not be for you. The key to health and happiness will not be found in a quick injection; you really do have to put forth the effort to take care of yourself through diet, exercise, and good habits.

Besides, smile lines can be beautiful. Think twice before you botox.


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