Survival Advantage of Human Expressions
Summary
Why is it that you wrinkle your nose and squint when you see a dead rat on the road, but open your eyes, nose and mouth wide when you see a live one in your bedroom?
New research suggests common facial expressions like disgust and fear not only convey how you are feeling, but also alter your sensory relationship to the world around you. If eyes and mouth are open, when we experience fear, are we able to see any better? After a range of tests, researchers found that the open-mouthed expression allowed more of the world in.
Keywords: University of Toronto, facial expressions, emotions, five senses, fear, disgust, Josh Susskind, NewScientist
