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Human Facial Expressions Are Organized Functionally Across the Upper-Lower Facial Axis

Department of Neurology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, elliott-ross{at}ouhsc.edu

Calin I. Prodan

Department of Neurology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Marilee Monnot

Department of Neurology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Most clinical research has focused on intensity differences of facial expressions between the right and left hemiface to explore lateralization of emotions in the brain. Observations by social psychologists, however, suggest that control of facial expression is organized predominantly across the upper-lower facial axis because of the phenomena of facial blends: simultaneous display of different emotions on the upper and lower face. Facial blends are related to social emotions and development of display rules that allow individuals to sculpt facial expressions for social and manipulative purposes. We have demonstrated that facial blends of emotion are more easily and accurately posed on the upper-lower than right-left hemiface, and that upper facial emotions are processed preferentially by the right hemisphere whereas lower facial emotions are processed preferentially by the left hemisphere. Based on these results, recent anatomical studies showing separate cortical areas for motor control of upper and lower face and the neurology of posed and spontaneous expressions of emotion, a functional-anatomic model of how the forebrain modulates facial expressions, is presented. The unique human ability to produce facial blends of emotion is, most likely, an adaptive modification linked to the evolution of speech and language. NEUROSCIENTIST 13(5):433—446, 2007.

Key Words: Facial expressions • Emotions • Neuroanatomy • Neurobiology • Sociobiology

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