Reader Laura’s Comment:

A study that is going to be published in the journal Psychological Science suggests that Botox may diminish the experience of emotion. Have you heard anything about this?

Source: scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2010/04
/botox_may_diminish_the_experience_of_emotions.php

I see their point but am not overly worried about it. Academics have a way of taking things to extremes and losing practical relevance.

Botox diminishes the visual signs of aging, but also reduces or eliminates facial gestures. Someone looking at a treated person can have a harder time figuring out what that person is feeling if the facial gestures he or she uses to communicate that are reduced.

I have not been a fan of more than the judicious use of these toxins as I do not like the “stone faced” result either, but there is a happy medium. I would translate this study to “take it easy on the botulinum toxin please.”

Best Regards,

John Di Saia MD

Originally posted 2010-04-29 09:00:38.