Facial recognition is a key component to our everyday lives. Walking down the street we are subconsciously coding for the faces that we pass by. We may notice that the neighbor looks more distressed than usual, or that there’s a new couple moving in across the street. Our ability to recognize emotions and facial familiarity is due to a series of complex neural networks that communicate across several portions of our brain (How Are Memories Formed?, 2018). Although the underlying mechanisms involved with facial recognition are quite complicated, at the surface, we can typically recall faces with ease. However, with the introduction of face masks, facial recognition has now become puzzling at even a social and behavioral level.
How did you feel the first time you walked into a supermarket and everyone was wearing a mask? Face mask mandates across the country, while absolutely vital, may be impacting us on a psychological and neurological level. Face masks cover a large portion of facial information that we are used to processing. With limited visual information, it is more difficult to perceive others' emotions (Ferrari et al., 2021). With a visual barrier blocking many emotional cues, it may be harder for some to exhibit empathy (Ferrari et al., 2021). Currently, there is not much research on the effects of face masks on empathy. However, it can be speculated that the degree of depersonalization/anonymity that face masks give an individual, may result in less compassionate interactions with others.
When we see a face, certain neural pathways are utilized to process the variety of facial features. When we see a masked face, half of that information is covered and there is less neuronal activation as a result (Ferrari et al., 2021). Studies have shown that decreased visual stimuli can decrease neuronal plasticity (Ferrari et al., 2021). Negative shifts in plasticity is related to a number of neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders (Ferrari et al., 2021). It is also important to note that toddlers may be more susceptible to adverse psychological effects of masks, as their networks responsible for recognizing faces are still developing (Ferrari et al., 2021).
It is possible that face masks may become a long term staple in our society as they provide an important protection against certain viruses. With this in mind, it is important for us to consider the psychological and neurological effects face masks may have on young children and adults. Adapting to societal changes related to the pandemic will require us to think proactively about the unique challenges we are now facing and their potential solutions.
Sources:
Ferrari, C., Vecchi, T., Sciamanna, G., Blandini, F., Pisani, A., & Natoli, S. (2021). Facemasks and face recognition: Potential impact on synaptic plasticity. Neurobiology of Disease, 153, 105319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105319
How are memories formed? (2018, July 23). Queensland Brain Institute - University of Queensland. https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain-basics/memory/how-are-memories-formed
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ReplyDeleteSubconscious constantly fills the part of the brain that does the heavy thinking for us. I tend to think that part of the brain where our subconscious is located at stores our beliefs, our innate behavior, our innermost thoughts. It seems very complex. This is quite interesting in that individuals subconsciously recognizes people and their emotions based on their faces. Facemask may cover half of the face and it might be worrisome for children learning to read faces, however there are other ways to perceive emotion from others. We just need to look for other clues. According to Michael Kraus’ article Voice-Only Communication Enhances Empathic Accuracy, “Our research suggests that relying on a combination of vocal and facial cues, or solely facial cues, may not be the best strategy for accurately recognizing emotions or intentions of others” (Kraus, 2017). He believes that even though facial perception is important, we must not forget that peoples’ voices and body language also helps us as much as facial perception when reading others’ emotions. Kraus supports this by describing a study based on five experiments. The results were that the individuals who only listened without observing was able to identify more accurately the emotions from other individuals (Kraus, 2017). Children will therefore learn differently than we did pre-Covid. Would facemasks hinder their recognition? Not completely, but children will look for other clues to help them read emotions from others.
ReplyDeleteKraus, M. (2017, October 10). Voice-Only Communication Enhances Empathic Accuracy. Retrieved from American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/10/emotions-listen
Hey Priscilla,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post because I think this is something we have all thought about and experienced. I think it has been a struggle for everyone feeling a bit isolated because in public wearing a mask has lead to less social interaction. What particularly sparks my intrest is toddlers being more susceptible to adverse physiology effects of wearing masks. CNN Health says that the US center of Disease Control and prevention hasn't recommended that children under the age of two wear masks (Rogers, 2021). For children this age learning how to communicate through visual cues is very important. There is already so much to learn and take in that wearing a mask can complicate this. For parents it is suggested that as much as possible to communicate with your child at home and alone without a mask. For most kids the morning and evening maskless interaction with them will ensure that they don't experience to many adverse phycological affects (Rogers, 2021). Whiles many people are probably being hit neurologically by the mask mandate, I think the most at risk group is most likely toddlers as you had mentioned.
Rogers, K. (2021, August 11). Does Mask Wearing Harm Your Child's development? experts weigh in. CNN. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/11/health/masks-child-development-effects-covid-pandemic-wellness/index.html.