Real and fake smiles can be tricky to tell apart, but researchers at the University of Bradford have now developed computer software that can spot false facial expressions.
By analysing the movement of the smile across a person’s face, the software can determine whether or not the expression is genuine. The most significant movements detected by the software were around the eyes, supporting popular theories that a spontaneous, genuine smile is one that can be seen in a person’s eyes.
“A smile is perhaps the most common of facial expressions and is a powerful way of signalling positive emotions,” says Hassan Ugail, Professor of Visual Computing at the University of Bradford, who led the research. “Techniques for analysing human facial expressions have advanced dramatically in recent years, but distinguishing between genuine and posed smiles remains a challenge because humans are not good at picking up the relevant cues.”
The software works by first mapping a person’s face from within a video recording, and identifying the mouth, cheeks and eyes of the subject. It then measures how these facial features move through the progress of the smile and calculates the differences in movement between the video clips showing real and fake smiles.
Researchers tested the programme using two different datasets, one containing images of people expressing genuine smiles, and another in which the images portrayed posed smiles.
They found significant differences in the way the subjects’ mouths and cheeks moved when comparing the real and the fake expressions. The movements around the subjects’ eyes, however, showed the most striking variation, with genuine smiles generating at least 10 per cent more movement in these muscles.
“We use two main sets of muscles when we smile – the zygomaticus major, which is responsible for the curling upwards of the mouth, and the orbicularis oculi, which causes crinkling around our eyes,” explains Professor Ugail. “In fake smiles it is often only the mouth muscles which move but, as humans, we often don’t spot the lack of movement around the eyes. The computer software can spot this much more reliably.”
He adds: “An objective way of analysing whether or not a smile is genuine could help us develop improved interactions between computers and humans – for example in biometric identification. It could also be important to social and clinical scientists aiming to gain more insight into human behaviour and emotion.”
Learn more: How can you reliably spot a fake smile? Ask a computer
The Latest on: Facial expressions
[google_news title=”” keyword=”facial expressions” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Facial expressions
- Meet Emo, a humanoid robot that can mimic facial expressions and smile before you doon April 29, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Researchers at Colombia University recently unveiled a new humanoid robot named 'Emo' who can mimic facial expressions in real time and even smile before you do.
- Emotional Expressions in Chickens: Blushing Linked to Affects : ScienceAlerton April 29, 2024 at 9:58 pm
Chickens are not just farmyard animals, but creatures capable of emotional expression, as a recent study indicates they exhibit facial skin redness akin to human blushing when experiencing emotions.
- It's all in the smile: New research finds politicians can influence voters with facial expressionson April 29, 2024 at 11:40 am
New research led by Aston University's Dr. Carl Senior has found that the type of smile used by a political leader can influence voters to support them and their political agenda. The research is ...
- Piers Morgan reacts to Susanna Reid's 'pained' facial expression as she marks anniversaryon April 29, 2024 at 3:23 am
ITV's Good Morning Britain has recently celebrated turning 10, as host Susanna Reid paid tribute to some of her current, and former, colleagues.
- Is Botox To Be Blamed For Alia Bhatt's 'Weird Expressions'?on April 29, 2024 at 1:03 am
A user on Reddit shared a video where he is trying to decipher the reason behind Alia Bhatt’s face movements. He claims that the reason could be related to an alleged Botox treatment. He goes on to ...
- Aamir Khan says he took notes of ex-wife Reena Dutta’s facial expressions during intense labor pain; latter got furious, slapped and bit himon April 27, 2024 at 9:27 pm
Aamir Khan opened up about how deeply he notices the people around him and gave an example of the time when his ex-wife Reena Dutta was in labor.
- What Your Dog’s Facial Expressions Really Meanon April 26, 2024 at 1:46 pm
From squinting to staring to sticking out their tongues, dog facial expressions convey very strong messages. Here’s what your pup is trying to tell you.
- Robot uses AI to mimic human facial expressionson April 25, 2024 at 6:24 am
A robot capable of mimicking human facial expressions has been developed by engineers at Columbia University in the US.
- 'Emo' robot can mimic human facial expressions using AI technologyon April 24, 2024 at 11:17 am
Engineers at Columbia University have created Emo, a robot that can mimic people's facial expressions using AI technology.
- Facial expressions and body movement are more effective than dirty talk during sex, study sayson April 23, 2024 at 3:11 pm
Nonverbal cues are more effective than verbal communication during sex, according to a study recently published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior.
via Bing News