Autism and Facial Expressions: What We Often Miss Facial expressions are the universal language of emotion. But for many autistic individuals, their emotional signals can be so subtle they go unnoticed. A recent study from Rutgers University shows that tiny facial micromovements—invisible to the naked eye—carry rich emotional meaning. This discovery reshapes how we understand…
Read MoreSmiling Boosts Mood- Even When it’s Forced
A recent study from the University of Essex entitled, “Smiling and Frowning Induced by Facial Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (fNMES) Modulate Felt Emotion and Physiology” explored whether electrically induced smiling could influence emotions. Participants had electrodes placed over their zygomaticus major muscles—those that lift the corners of the mouth. A gentle electrical current forced a…
Read MoreDogs May Use Blinking To Bond With Other Dogs
Did you know? The subtle nonverbal exchange of blinking back at someone who blinks at you helps humans and primates bond. Now according to a new study, dogs may also use blinking as a form of connecting to other canines. In their study entitled “If you blink at me, I’ll blink back. Domestic dogs’ feedback…
Read MoreCan Artificial Intelligence (AI) Read Animal Emotions?
As technology advances, scientists from around the globe have been investigating the use of AI to help recognize animal pain signals. Through computerized facial expression analysis, this AI technology can quickly and accurately recognize pain signals in animals. In some cases, AI is better at this task than some humans! This AI technology has been…
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