Measuring the evolution of facial ‘expression’ using multi-species FACS

Waller, Bridget M.; Julle-Danière, Églantine; Micheletta, Jérôme

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.02.031

Cited by 74 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 84 publications

(96 reference statements)

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“…In this regard, we have the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), which was developed to evaluate facial behavior in humans based on the movements of individual facial muscles (Ekman and Friesen, 1978). This system has been modified over time for use with certain species of non-human primates and domestic animals (dogs, cats, horses), but additional research is required (Wathan et al 2015;Caeiro et al 2017a;Caeiro et al 2017b;Lezama-García et al 2019a;Waller et al 2020). Another tool, the so-called 'grimace scale', has been developed, and undergone a series of adaptations for different species, to validate its potential use as an instrument for identifying emotional states in animals such as pigs (Di Giminiani et al 2016), horses (Dalla-Costa et al 2014), sheep (Häger et al 2017), and rats (Sotocinal et al 2011).…”

Section: Importance Of Facial Expressions and Animal Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

Neurological modulation of facial expressions in pigs and implications for production

Mota-Rojas

Orihuela

Martı́nez-Burnes

et al. 2020

JABB

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The facial expressions of animals constitute a means of manifesting emotions, fulfilling functions related to social interactions in several species. Interest has come to use facial expressions as a tool for predicting intentions; in the case of aggression, for example, impeding attacks between individuals prevents negative economic and emotional impacts. Recent research has sought to associate facial expressions with painful events as tail-cropping and castration on the assumption that objective evaluations of the presence or absence of grimaces in pigs' snouts may allow us to determine the intensity of the pain they perceive. Furthermore, to continue developing scales that will complement the existing piglet grimace scale (PGS), which is not yet fully-validated in terms of reliability. Another area of research is interpreting expressions of fear during traumatic events like pre-slaughter handling. Also, the phenomenon of emotional contagion in groups of animals suggests the need to focus on their emotions, since recognizing them could allow us to prevent alterations of meat quality. These approaches reveal the need for a detailed compilation of the facial expressions of pigs based on current scientific literature regarding emotions, alimentation, and pain-related behavioral responses in pigs.

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Section: Importance Of Facial Expressions and Animal Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

Neurological modulation of facial expressions in pigs and implications for production

Mota-Rojas

Orihuela

Martı́nez-Burnes

et al. 2020

JABB

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“…Due to all the sources of biases mentioned above, FACS is considered the more objective, and is also the more standardised method between species in comparison with alternative methods (e.g. categorisation-or emotion-based) to study facial behaviour [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies demonstrate that only by using FACS as a tool was it possible to investigate different species in parallel and a range of specific questions in such an objective and systematic way. A review of multi-species FACS identified three main types of applications [11]: 1) building the phylogeny of facial behaviours between humans and other animals in order to understand how they evolved, 2) understanding the cognitive mechanisms within facial communication, and 3) socio-ecological factors that shape facial behaviours. Other researchers [26][27][28] have suggested the use of facial expressions as an indicator of welfare (positive and negative), pain, emotion and intent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This variation has also been reported for non-vocal communication in macaques. Initial broad qualitative descriptions of facial expressions and gestures in macaques [32,33] reported lower interspecific variation in agonistic displays than in affiliative displays, while more recent studies [11] have highlighted that the size and the characteristics of the nonverbal cues, along with conciliatory and counter-aggression differences between phyletic groups are important to consider in order to understand the evolution and function of the Macaca communication.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Extending the MaqFACS to measure facial movement in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) reveals a wide repertoire potential

2021

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Facial expressions are complex and subtle signals, central for communication and emotion in social mammals. Traditionally, facial expressions have been classified as a whole, disregarding small but relevant differences in displays. Even with the same morphological configuration different information can be conveyed depending on the species. Due to a hardwired processing of faces in the human brain, humans are quick to attribute emotion, but have difficulty in registering facial movement units. The well-known human FACS (Facial Action Coding System) is the gold standard for objectively measuring facial expressions, and can be adapted through anatomical investigation and functional homologies for cross-species systematic comparisons. Here we aimed at developing a FACS for Japanese macaques, following established FACS methodology: first, we considered the species’ muscular facial plan; second, we ascertained functional homologies with other primate species; and finally, we categorised each independent facial movement into Action Units (AUs). Due to similarities in the rhesus and Japanese macaques’ facial musculature, the MaqFACS (previously developed for rhesus macaques) was used as a basis to extend the FACS tool to Japanese macaques, while highlighting the morphological and appearance changes differences between the two species. We documented 19 AUs, 15 Action Descriptors (ADs) and 3 Ear Action Units (EAUs) in Japanese macaques, with all movements of MaqFACS found in Japanese macaques. New movements were also observed, indicating a slightly larger repertoire than in rhesus or Barbary macaques. Our work reported here of the MaqFACS extension for Japanese macaques, when used together with the MaqFACS, comprises a valuable objective tool for the systematic and standardised analysis of facial expressions in Japanese macaques. The MaqFACS extension for Japanese macaques will now allow the investigation of the evolution of communication and emotion in primates, as well as contribute to improving the welfare of individuals, particularly in captivity and laboratory settings.

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“…These facial expressions help individuals with cohesion of social and kin groups, maintaining relationships, and potentially signal the intent and emotional state of the sender (Burrows, 2008;Burrows & Cohn, 2014;Parr & de Waal, 1999;Parr & Waller, 2006). A large majority of these studies comes from primates but recent work has increased our understanding of how some domestic mammals use facial expression in social interactions with conspecifics and humans (Caeiro, Burrows, & Waller, 2017;Kaminski, Hynds, Morris, & Waller, 2017;Maglieri, Prato-Previde, Tommasi, & Palagi, 2020;Waller, Julle-Daniere, & Micheletta, 2020;Wathan, Burrows, Waller, & McComb, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dog faces exhibit anatomical differences in comparison to other domestic animals

Burrows

Waller

Omstead

et al. 2020

The Anatomical Record

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Measuring the evolution of facial ‘expression’ using multi-species FACS

Cited by 74 publications

References 84 publications

Neurological modulation of facial expressions in pigs and implications for production

Neurological modulation of facial expressions in pigs and implications for production

Extending the MaqFACS to measure facial movement in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) reveals a wide repertoire potential

Dog faces exhibit anatomical differences in comparison to other domestic animals

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