From an evolutionary perspective, facial expressions of fear convey highly recognizable emotional signals that serve adaptive functions by promoting survival and reproductive success ( 1 The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals. ). Current theories of how the brain interprets facial expressions of fear implicate the mirror neuron network (MNN) in echoing the emotional states of others by internal simulation ( 2 Bastiaansen J.A. Thioux M. Keysers C. Evidence for mirror systems in emotions.
