Emotional electrostimulation

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

We hypothesize that selectively activating muscles of the face triggers the same emotional state that would have produced that same configuration of muscle responses.  For example, if we stimulate the muscles that would normally create a smile, we believe we can create a positive emotional state.  Conversely, if we inhibit the muscles that would typically generate a frown, we believe we can prevent the development of a negative emotional state.  Electrical  stimulation, the technology used to achieve this stimulation, has been around for decades, and is already used to treat drug abuse and insomnia.  We are planning studies to evaluate varying patterns of stimulation to see if we can use this approach to treat conditions such as depression and anxiety.