Patients with peripheral facial palsy often report not only motor impairments of the facial muscles, but also subjective changes in the perception and processing of emotions. This phenomenon has been little studied scientifically to date, although it has potentially far-reaching effects on the psychosocial quality of life of those affected.

The aim of this doctoral project is to systematically investigate emotion-related neural networks in patients with facial paralysis using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The activity patterns will be correlated with performance in standardised tests of emotion processing. In addition, both conservatively treated and surgically-assisted patient cases will be analysed in a longitudinal fashion in order to draw conclusions about the influence of different treatment strategies on emotional processing and psychological well-being. The aim is to investigate the relationship between facial paralysis and emotional processing and to assess possible improvements in the latter through surgical reconstruction versus spontaneous recovery.