Seeing a Blush on the Visible and Invisible Spectrum: A Functional Thermal Infrared Imaging Study

Abstract

So far blushing has been examined in the context of a negative rather than a positive reinforcement where visual displays of a blush were based on subjective measures. The current study used infrared imaging to measure thermal patterns of the face while with the use of a video camera quantified on the visible spectrum alterations in skin color related to a compliment. To elicit a blush a three-phase dialog was adopted ending or starting with a compliment on a female sample (N = 22). When the dialog ended with a compliment results showed a linear increase in temperature for the cheek, and forehead whereas for the peri-orbital region a linear decrease was observed. The compliment phase marked the highest temperature on the chin independent of whether or not the experiment started with a compliment contrary to other facial regions, which did not show a significant change when the experiment started with a compliment. Analyses on the visible spectrum showed that skin pigmentation was getting deep red in the compliment condition compared to the serious and social dialog conditions for both the forehead and the cheeks. No significant association was observed between temperature values and erythrocyte displays on the forehead and cheek. Heat is the physiological product of an arousing social scenario, however, preconceived notions about blushing propensity seem to drive erythrocyte displays and not necessarily conscious awareness of somatic sensations.

Children with facial paralysis due to Moebius syndrome exhibit reduced autonomic modulation during emotion processing

“…Then, the temperature values for each emotional block (disgust, surprise, anger, and happiness) were subtracted from those for the neutral block [43]. Given that the temperature values of the three ROIs (forehead, cheeks, and nose) were significantly correlated (Table 5), we performed a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) in which the dependent variables were the three face ROIs [73]. Thus, the effects of emotional stimuli observation on facial temperature were analyzed via a 4 × 2 MANOVA (emotion × group).…”

Vascular response to social cognitive performance measured by infrared thermography: A translational study from mouse to man

“…This unexpectedly strong relation between social cognition testing and IRT readouts in mice raised the obvious translational question whether the addition of a social component to a cognitive task would yield characteristic IRT data also in human individuals that differ from those obtained during a non‐social test. In human IRT, thermo‐patterns depend strongly on stimuli used and facial ROI targeted . We focused on the nose because of its high reactivity to social cues .…”

“…In human IRT, thermo‐patterns depend strongly on stimuli used and facial ROI targeted . We focused on the nose because of its high reactivity to social cues . Since the introduction of the Centralization Index in mice had proven to be a reproducible, sensitive and widely environment‐independent measure, we established a similar readout in human subjects.…”

“…This may be due to a lower than expected socially threatening/embarrassing impact, the shortness of presentation (only 10 s each) with test‐block 2 following immediately thereafter, or doubts of subjects regarding feedback authenticity. Finally, temperature alterations in connection with such ultra‐brief negative feedback may belong to different underlying processes . Neither nose nor malar cheek may be optimal for exploring respective facial thermo‐reactions.…”

“…These observations advocate infrared thermography (IRT) as a highly attractive method of contact‐free and non‐invasive measurement of naturally emitted electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength between 0.75‐1000 µm, commonly interpreted as “heat” . Modern IRT recording systems are characterized by high spatial and temporal resolutions and require almost no restrictions in movement of test subjects, allowing a more natural/ecological testing environment . Because of its high accuracy, relative ease of use, and minimal inconvenience for the subjects, IRT has already been implemented in different fields of medical research and practice …”