Research Study Reveals the Face of Sleep
Deprivation - The Body Language of Sleep Loss
Below is research on the facial expression of sleep deprived
tired people. The most interesting thing about it is that they look sadder. Yes, on
some level you know that. But for me it is extremely interesting. Think about
it. I am familiar with research that we avoid and in other ways treat people who look sad differently. How do you interact with someone who is sad or who just looks and feels sad because they are sleepy. Are you more empathetic to someone who look sad/tired? Are
you gentler or do you avoid people at work who look sad? What about leadership,
credibly, sales and persuasion? Do you take the advice of someone who looks
tired? Do you buy from a tired sales guy? Do you follow the protocol for your
health from your sleep deprived Doctor? Do kids ignore the commands of their
tired parents?
I would love to do a
study on this. Here is the study I read on the facial expression of the sleep
deprived.
Results show that the
faces of sleep-deprived individuals were perceived as having more hanging
eyelids, redder eyes, more swollen eyes and darker circles under the eyes.
Sleep deprivation also was associated with paler skin, more wrinkles or fine
lines, and more droopy corners of the mouth. People also looked sadder when
sleep-deprived than after normal sleep, and sadness was related to looking
fatigued. Here is what I find interesting, The James-Lange Theory argues that the pattern our body language for emotions goes as follows: stimulus - bodily reaction - emotion. Which means how your hold your body effects how your feel. If sleepiness causes sad facial expressions you can't help but feel sad. By the way this goes against the conventional view that emotions cause bodily reactions
Link to the research or full research study below. http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/top/environment/
Date - August 30, 2013
Source - American Academy of
Sleep Medicine
Summary
A new study finds that
sleep deprivation affects facial features such as the eyes, mouth and skin, and
these features function as cues of sleep loss to other people.
Tired eyes.
Credit: © Sylvie
Bouchard / Fotolia
Tired eyes.
Credit: © Sylvie Bouchard / Fotolia
A new study finds that sleep deprivation
affects facial features such as the eyes, mouth and skin, and these features
function as cues of sleep loss to other people.
Results show that the
faces of sleep-deprived individuals were perceived as having more hanging
eyelids, redder eyes, more swollen eyes and darker circles under the eyes.
Sleep deprivation also was associated with paler skin, more wrinkles or fine
lines, and more droopy corners of the mouth. People also looked sadder when
sleep-deprived than after normal sleep, and sadness was related to looking
fatigued.
"Since faces
contain a lot of information on which humans base their interactions with each
other, how fatigued a person appears may affect how others behave toward
them," said Tina Sundelin, MSc, lead author and doctoral student in the
department of psychology at Stockholm University in Stockholm, Sweden.
"This is relevant not only for private social interactions, but also
official ones such as with health care professionals and in public
safety."
The study, which
appears in the September issue of the journal Sleep, was conducted at
the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Ten subjects were photographed
on two separate occasions: after eight hours of normal sleep and after 31 hours
of sleep deprivation. The photographs were taken in the laboratory at 2:30 p.m.
on both occasions. Forty participants rated the 20 facial photographs with
respect to 10 facial cues, fatigue and sadness.
According to the
authors, face perception involves a specialized neuronal network and is one of
the most developed visual perceptual skills in humans. Facial appearance can
affect judgments of attributes such as trustworthiness, aggressiveness and
competence.
Story Source:
Journal Reference:
1. Tina Sundelin, Mats Lekander, Göran Kecklund,
Eus J. W. Van Someren, Andreas Olsson, John Axelsson. Cues of Fatigue:
Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Facial Appearance. SLEEP, 2013; DOI:
10.5665/sleep.2964
Cite This Page:
American Academy of
Sleep Medicine. "Study reveals the face of sleep deprivation."
ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 August 2013. .
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at
www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at
www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at
http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.
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