When a baby smiles at you, it's almost impossible not to smile back. This spontaneous reaction to a facial expression is part of the back-and-forth that allows us to understand each other's emotions ...

New research shows facial expressions are planned by the brain before movement, not automatic emotional reactions.

Facial expression control starts in a very old part of the nervous system. In the brain stem sits the facial nucleus, which contains the motoneurons that directly control facial muscles.

The team thinks this means that the cingulate cortex manages the social purpose and context of the facial gesture, which is ...

Every time we show facial gestures, it feels effortless, but the brain is quietly coordinating an intricate performance.

Researchers found that autistic and non-autistic people move their faces differently when expressing emotions like anger, happiness, and sadness. Autistic participants tended to rely on different ...

Every time we smile, grimace, or flash a quick look of surprise, it feels effortless, but the brain is quietly coordinating an intricate performance. This study shows that facial gestures aren't ...

Facial expressions play a fundamental role in social communication. While it is well established that others’ expressions influence our behavior—such as approaching a smiling person or avoiding an ...