Occipitofrontalis

The occipitofrontalis consists of two muscle portions, or bellies, connected by a sheet. The galea aponeurotica, which covers the top of the head, connects the frontal belly (frontalis) at the forehead and the occipital belly (occipitalis) at the back of the head. Rather than functioning as separate muscles, the two bellies move as a single unit with this sheet between them.

• Frontal belly — It attaches to the skin above the eyebrows. When it contracts, the eyebrows rise and horizontal wrinkles form on the forehead. It is used when you look surprised or puzzled, or open your eyes wide.
• Occipital belly — It originates along a bony line on the lower back of the head and pulls the scalp backward.
• Galea aponeurotica — It connects the two bellies and covers the scalp as a single sheet. When the frontal belly contracts, this sheet becomes taut; when the occipital belly contracts, the front of the scalp is pulled backward.

Both the frontal and occipital bellies are controlled by branches of the facial nerve, which is responsible for facial expressions. A branch passing along the side of the head supplies the frontal belly, while a branch passing behind the ear supplies the occipital belly.

• When you look at a screen with your eyes wide open, you may tense your forehead. When staring at a monitor for a long time, it is easy to raise your eyebrows unconsciously to keep your eyes open, leaving your forehead feeling sore by the end of the workday.
• When concentrating or worrying, a habit of furrowing your brow can cause a pulling sensation in the forehead and between the eyebrows.
• When your head feels tight, the scalp and the areas touched by a hat, glasses, or headband may feel stiff together. Because the front and back are connected by a single sheet, many people feel as though tension in the forehead spreads throughout the scalp (Scalp fascial tension).

In people with tension-type headache, increased tenderness in the fascial tissues covering the head and a greater number of active myofascial trigger points have been reported. Observations also suggest an association between trigger points in the muscles covering the head and pain sensitivity throughout the body. However, it remains unclear whether the increase in trigger points is a cause or a consequence of headache. See also Tension-type headache.

• Try consciously relaxing your forehead. Place your fingers on your forehead and between your eyebrows, then raise and lower your eyebrows to get a feel for the muscles moving. This can make it easier to notice when you are tensing your forehead during the day.
• Try gently stroking upward over your forehead with your palm. Slowly sweep your palm or fingertips from above your eyebrows toward your hairline. Aim for a warm, comfortable level of pressure rather than pressing hard.
• Try gently moving your scalp. Place your fingers on your scalp and make small circles so that the skin and muscles shift slightly over the bone. Slowly work from the front of your head toward the back.
• Take care of your eyes, too. When looking at a screen for a long time, resting your eyes by looking into the distance every 20 minutes can help reduce the habit of using your forehead to open your eyes.
• Relax your neck and shoulders, too. Forehead tension is connected with the muscles of the neck and back of the head, so many people also loosen the area around the suboccipital muscles beneath the back of the head.

• Headaches become increasingly frequent or continue in a pattern different from usual
• One eyebrow does not rise, or forehead wrinkles fail to form on one side only
• There are accompanying changes in your eyes or vision

If you notice these signs, speak with a professional promptly. Forehead movement can change for reasons other than muscle tension.