Perception of emotion in impaired facial and vocal expression

This chapter tries to give a short overview of the main currents in contemporary theories of emotional expression. First, we attempt to draw a brief outline of how emotions are defined as compared to other affective states. Second, we try to give a short picture of the different views concerning the relationship between emotional expressions and experienced emotions, as well as the role of those expressions in human interactions. Third, the vocal and facial modes of emotion expressions are detailed. Fourth, we focus on how emotional expressions can be affected by different diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, Steinert’s disease, and Moebius syndrome, at the vocal and the facial level. The impact of these impairments is considered in the light of the conclusions about the function of emotional expressions in society today. We conclude with a reflection about the therapy possibilities in reeducation of impaired emotional expressions.