This provisional PDF corresponds to the article as it appeared upon acceptance.A copyedited and fully formatted version will be made available soon. The final version may contain major or minor changes. Subscription: Information about subscribing to Minerva Medica journals is online at:http://www.minervamedica.it/en/how-to-order-journals.php Reprints and permissions: For information about reprints and permissions send an email to:journals.dept@minervamedica.it -journals2.dept@minervamedica.it -journals6.dept@minervamedica.it EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA Abstract BACKGROUND: Peripheral facial nerve palsy (FNP) can have various causes, such as Bell's palsy or after surgery for acoustic neuroma. Rehabilitation is often required but there is no evidence that any rehabilitation approach is more efficacious than another.AIM: The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of neurocognitive-rehabilitative approach through mirror-therapy (MT) and motor-imagery (MI), integrated into the traditional rehabilitation with mime-therapy and myofascial-approach.DESIGN: This study was designed as a double-blind, randomized, controlled-trial. POPULATION: Twenty-two patients were randomized into two groups: mirror-therapy (N=11, MT and MI) and traditional-rehabilitative group (N=11, mime-therapy and a myofascial-approach). METHODS: Outcome assessments were performed before treatment (T0), after one month (T1=10 session, twice/week), after the second and third months (T2=10 twice/week + 5 of MT+MI one/week and T3=10 twice/week + 5 of MT+MI 1/week), and at the 4-week follow-up (T4=2 months follow-up).RESULTS: The analysis of the functional evaluations show that both groups experienced progressive improvement T0 to T3, with stabilization of the results at the follow-up. There was a significant difference in House-Brackmann-Scale scores between T0 and follow-up in favor of the experimental group. In terms of quality of life (FaCE scale), total scores and social function items improved in both groups from T0 to T3. The experimental group obtained better results with regard to quality of life and emotional depression. COPYRIGHT© EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICAThis document is