Abstract
Although recent studies suggest the existence of distinct positive emotions in terms of an evolutionary framework, no study has examined the facial expression in several positive emotions. Present study examined the subjective experience of emotion and facial muscle activity by facial electromyographic (fEMG) monitoring in three types of positive emotions; amusement, attachment, and relaxed. The films eliciting these three positive emotions and neutral film serving as control were presented to 19 Japanese participants and self-reported experience of the emotions and fEMG were assessed. The results indicated that the films elicited the target positive emotions. In addition, the positive emotions activated the orbicularis oculi and the zygomatic major muscles according to the degree of arousal of the positive emotions. These results suggest that distinct positive emotions elicited different experience of emotion and facial muscle could be activated corresponding to the arousal of the emotions.
