Facial Movement, Breathing, Temperature, and Affect: Implications of the Vascular Theory of Emotional Efference

Abstract

The vascular theory of emotional efference (VTEE) states that facial action can alter the volume of air inhaled though the nose, which in turn influences brain temperature and affective states. Cooling enhances positive affect, whereas warming depresses it. Three studies assessed this hypothesised series of effects. Study 1 found that when subjects engaged facial muscles in a manner analogous to a negative emotional expression, the volume of ambient air inhaled through the nose decreased, forehead temperature (a measure of brain temperature) increased, and participants reported feeling more negative affect. Study 2 established that prevention of nasal breathing generated negative affect. Study 3 indicated that forehead temperature increased when nasal breathing was prevented, without forehead muscle movement. Further, facial movement and prevention of nasal inhalation had no effects on arm temperature, showing that facial movement has only locally specific temperature effects. The hypotheses generated from VTEE were thus generally supported, and suggest a means by which facial action can cause changes in affective state in the absence of cognitive appraisal.