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Different people interpret facial impressions very differently, study reveals

Researchers used 3D avatars to refine facial expressions and found substantial individual differences in interpreting emotions like happiness, fear, sadness, and anger. The study suggests people's unique understandings of facial expressions influence their responses, highlighting the need for diverse research approaches.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 31, 2022

Don’t look at me like that!

A new study has decoded information about how we process gazes and facial expressions, revealing that emotional expressions of faces significantly impact our attention. The results show that faces showing joy or anger attract attention when looking directly at the observer, while disgusted faces with an averted gaze do the opposite.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 20, 2022

Some monkeys might pull a poker face

Researchers developed a tool to analyze facial movements in common marmosets, finding they have more facial expressions than previously thought. The study suggests that facial expressions may be more ancient and prevalent among social animals.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateMay 25, 2022

Facial recognition technology taken to the next level in virtual reality

Researchers developed a system using facial expressions to manipulate objects in virtual reality environments, outperforming handheld controllers in terms of immersion. The technique has potential applications for people with disabilities, including amputees and those with motor neurone disease, allowing hands-free interactions.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalInternational Journal of Human-Computer Studies·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 17, 2022

Introducing Nikola, the emotional android kid

Researchers from RIKEN created Nikola, an android child that can convey six basic emotions through facial expressions. The study tested the quality of these expressions and found that humans can recognize them with varying accuracy.

SourceRIKEN·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateFeb 15, 2022

Alcohol use linked to lower connectivity in brain areas that process emotions

Researchers found lower functional connectivity between brain areas involved in social and emotional processing in individuals at risk of developing alcohol use disorder. This impairment may affect their ability to interpret facial expressions and respond to their environment, increasing the likelihood of disordered drinking.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalAlcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research·DateFeb 8, 2022

Adults with positive facial expressions while eating vegetables help kids consume more than double the amount of vegetables – research

Research by Aston University psychologists found that children who watched adults eat green vegetables with positive facial expressions consumed more than double the amount of those vegetables. The study suggests that smiling while eating can encourage children to try and eat more, especially less popular vegetables like broccoli.

SourceAston University·JournalAppetite·TypeObservational study·DateDec 15, 2021

Medical providers less able to detect authentic pain among Black people than White people, study finds

A new study by E. Paige Lloyd found that medical providers are better at discerning real from fake pain expressions for White people than Black people. This disparity in pain detection could contribute to racial disparities in pain care and treatment recommendations.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 18, 2021

Autistic children struggle with hidden emotions

Research published in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found that autistic children with difficulties integrating narrative context with facial expressions, leading to inaccurate emotion recognition. This highlights the importance of contextual cues in social exchanges for effectively managing interactions.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 7, 2021

Expressing some doubts about android faces

A team of researchers from Osaka University used motion capture technology to compare the facial expressions of five android faces with those of humans. They found that mechanical facial movements of robots lacked the complexity of real human reactions, particularly in the upper regions. The study suggests redesigning android faces to ...

SourceOsaka University·JournalFrontiers in Robotics and AI·DateMar 22, 2021

New study explores if flirting is real and shows it can work

A new study published in the Journal of Sex Research found that internal states, such as romantic or sexual interest, can be conveyed nonverbally through facial expressions. Researchers identified specific facial cues, including a head turn and smile, as representative of flirting, which men are able to recognize with high accuracy.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalThe Journal of Sex Research·DateSep 14, 2020

The facial expressions of mice

Researchers at Max Planck Institute describe different emotional facial expressions in mice, linking them to specific brain regions and emotions. The discovery enables the investigation of emotional mechanisms and their relationship with neuronal activity.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateApr 2, 2020

Humans' ability to read dogs' facial expressions is learned, not innate

Researchers found that humans' ability to recognize dog emotions is mainly acquired through age and experience, rather than being an evolutionarily selected trait. Participants who grew up in a cultural context with a positive attitude towards dogs were better at recognizing their emotions, regardless of whether they owned a dog themse...

SourceMax Planck Institute of Geoanthropology·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 11, 2019

Can AI spot liars?

Researchers at USC Institute for Creative Technologies found that spontaneous facial expressions are often context-dependent and do not accurately reveal intentions. The study challenges the assumption that facial expressions can be used to predict feelings and actions.