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Scientists trace facial gestures back to their source. before a smile appears, the brain has already decided

A new study published in Science uncovers how the brain prepares and produces facial gestures through a temporally organized hierarchy of neural codes. The research found that multiple brain regions work in parallel, each contributing different timing-based codes to generate coherent facial gestures.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 8, 2026

How the brain creates facial expressions

Researchers at Rockefeller University have made a breakthrough in understanding how the brain controls facial expressions, discovering a complex network of neural circuits involved. Contrary to long-held assumptions, both lower-level and higher-level brain regions are involved in encoding different types of facial gestures.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalScience·DateJan 8, 2026

High-tech sticker can identify real human emotions

Researchers created a stretchable sticker that can detect real human emotions by measuring physiological signals. The device combines facial expression analysis with other important physiological signals to better distinguish between genuine emotions and acted ones.

SourcePenn State·JournalNano Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2025

AI emotion detection may fall short: real-life intense fear is shaped by context, not faces

A new study challenges the long-held belief that fear is primarily communicated through facial expressions, suggesting instead that situational context plays a critical role in fear recognition. The research involved analyzing real-life fear reactions in videos and found that facial expressions alone fail to reliably signal fear.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 13, 2025

Study finds people prefer AI chatbots when discussing embarrassing health info — but humans when they are angry

A recent study from the University of Kansas found that people tend to prefer AI chatbots when discussing sensitive or embarrassing topics like health information, due to their anonymity and nonjudgmental nature. However, when individuals are angry, they still prefer human interaction.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalInternational Journal of Human-Computer Interaction·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 24, 2025

Crossing the Uncanny Valley: Breakthrough in technology for lifelike facial expressions in androids

Researchers at Osaka University developed a dynamic facial expression synthesis technology using waveform movements, allowing androids to exhibit mood changes and convey emotions. This innovation enhances emotional communication between humans and robots, potentially leading to more natural interactions.

SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of Robotics and Mechatronics·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 23, 2024

Animal characters can boost young children’s psychological development, study suggests

A recent study suggests that iconic animal characters can influence children's theory of mind skills, with younger children performing better on tests featuring animal characters. The research also highlights the importance of adapting educational activities to incorporate both human and non-human characters for optimal development.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalJournal of Experimental Child Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 22, 2024

How do we recognize other people’s emotions?

Emotion recognition involves considering multiple factors beyond facial expressions, including physical appearance, cultural characteristics, and situational context. People tend to form associations with social status and personality traits based on these characteristics.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalPhilosophy and Phenomenological Research·DateOct 11, 2024

Bottlenose dolphins “smile” at each other while playing

Researchers discovered that bottlenose dolphins use the open mouth facial expression to signal playfulness and that they mirror each other's expressions 33% of the time. This finding suggests that visual communication plays a crucial role in shaping complex social interactions in marine mammals.

SourceCell Press·JournaliScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 2, 2024

Morphing facial technology sheds light on the boundaries of self-recognition

A study by Dr. Shunichi Kasahara found that levels of identification with one's face remain consistent regardless of agency or control over facial movements. The results suggest that a sense of agency does not significantly impact our ability to judge our facial identity, even in scenarios like deepfakes.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 29, 2024

‘Baby talk:’ Decoding how children’s vocal and cognitive cues sway adults

Researchers found that adults prioritize cognitive cues over vocal signals when evaluating a child's intelligence or negative emotions, while vocal cues dominate for assessing happiness or helplessness. This study provides insights into the complex dynamics of caregiver-child interactions and their evolutionary roots.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalEvolution and Human Behavior·TypeObservational study·DateAug 6, 2024

Hens blush when they are scared or excited

Researchers found that domestic hens exhibit distinct facial expressions, including flushing and feather fluffing, to convey different emotions. The study provides a window into the emotional lives of farmed poultry, potentially improving their welfare.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 24, 2024

Face screening tool detects stroke in seconds

A new AI-powered smartphone tool can detect stroke in seconds, improving diagnosis time and reducing permanent brain damage. The tool uses facial expression recognition to identify patients who need prompt treatment.

SourceRMIT University·JournalComputer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine·TypeObservational study·DateJun 17, 2024

Wearable sticker turns hand movements into communication

Researchers developed a wearable sticker that can detect subtle hand movements, enabling individuals with disabilities to communicate more easily. The sensors show high sensitivity and accuracy in recognizing gestures and translating them into words or commands.

SourceOptica·JournalBiomedical Optics Express·DateFeb 27, 2024

World’s first real-time wearable human emotion recognition technology developed!

A groundbreaking technology recognizes human emotions in real time, combining verbal and non-verbal expression data for accurate emotional information extraction. The system features a personalized skin-integrated facial interface that enables self-powered, flexible, and transparent emotion recognition.

Do apes have humor?

Great apes engage in playful teasing behaviors, including provocative actions and one-sided provocation, similar to human infant teasing. This study suggests that the cognitive prerequisites for humor evolved in the human lineage at least 13 million years ago.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 13, 2024

Artificial intelligence as therapeutic support

Researchers developed an AI system that analyzed video recordings from therapy sessions with patients with borderline personality pathology. The system accurately detected the emotional states of patients, including fleeting micro-expressions. It also identified a predictor for therapy success: 'social' smiling at the start of a session.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalPsychopathology·DateDec 27, 2023

Realistic talking faces created from only an audio clip and a person’s photo using NTU Singapore computer program

Researchers developed DIRFA, an AI-based program that generates realistic videos with facial animations synchronized to spoken audio, showcasing improvements over existing approaches. The tool has potential applications in healthcare, education, and entertainment, enhancing user experiences.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalPattern Recognition·TypeImaging analysis·DateNov 15, 2023

AI recognizes faces but not like the human brain

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that AI's deep convolutional neural networks can identify faces but struggle to capture other important information like emotional state and trustworthiness. Brain activity scans revealed a weak correlation between AI's codes and human brain represent...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 10, 2023

“They yell and I yell back”

A new study by Uppsala University found that pre-school children aged 3–6 years can describe their feelings and family relationships in detail. The research suggests that children seek comfort from others when experiencing conflicts with parents, but also have positive experiences of making up after a fight.

SourceUppsala University·JournalJournal of Child and Family Studies·TypeObservational study·DateOct 5, 2023

Your Zoom background might influence the first impression you make

A new study found that faces against houseplant or bookcase backgrounds are perceived as more trustworthy and competent than those with other backgrounds. The research, published in PLOS ONE, suggests that videoconference users, particularly men, may benefit from using these background images to make a good impression.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeSurvey·DateSep 27, 2023

Young kids may learn to identify dog aggression with age and experience

A study published in PLOS ONE found that children's ability to recognize dog emotions, especially aggression, improves with age. Four-year-olds were less able to recognize aggressive dog expressions than six-year-olds and adults. As children grow older and gain experience with dogs, they become better at reading canine facial expressions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 26, 2023

Like human, like dog

A recent study by researchers at the University of Vienna found that dogs and humans have brain regions specialized in perceiving body postures, similar to those found in humans. The study used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare the brains of 40 human participants with 15 pet dogs.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalCommunications Biology·DateJun 27, 2023