Four emotions shown through expressions - research

By AIMEE BEVERIDGE
Published 3rd Feb 2014, 23:58 BST
There are only four basic eomotions shown through facial expressions, and not six as first thought. Picture: ContributedThere are only four basic eomotions shown through facial expressions, and not six as first thought. Picture: Contributed
There are only four basic eomotions shown through facial expressions, and not six as first thought. Picture: Contributed
HUMAN BEINGS show four basic emotions through facial expressions, and not six as previously thought - according to scientists at a leading Scots university.

Happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust are the six basic human emotions which have been thought to be universally recognised and easily interpreted through specific facial expressions, regardless of language or culture.

But now researchers at Glasgow University have challenged this theory, first proposed by American psychologist Dr Paul Ekman, suggesting that humans in fact only show four basic emotions through their facial emotions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The team from the university’s Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology studied the range of different muscles within the face - called action units - which are involved in signalling different emotions, along with the time-frame over which each muscle was activated.

They claim that while the facial expression signals of happiness and sadness are clearly distinct across time, fear and surprise share the common signal of wide open eyes early in the signalling dynamics.

Similarly, anger and disgust share the wrinkled nose.

It is these early signals that could represent more basic danger signals.

Later in the signalling dynamics, facial expressions transmit signals that distinguish all six “classic” facial expressions of emotion.

The study, published in the journal Current Biology, is the first study to objectively examine the “temporal dynamics” of facial expressions, and was carried out using Glasgow University’s unique Generative Face Grammar platform.

Lead researcher Dr Rachael Jack said today/yesterday [MON]: “Our results are consistent with evolutionary predictions, where signals are designed by both biological and social evolutionary pressures to optimise their function.

“First, early danger signals confer the best advantages to others by enabling the fastest escape.

“Secondly, physiological advantages for the expresser - the wrinkled nose prevents inspiration of potentially harmful particles, whereas widened eyes increases intake of visual information useful for escape - are enhanced when the face movements are made early.

Hide Ad