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Investigating the 'Uncatchable Smile' in Leonardo da Vinci's La Bella Principessa: A Comparison with the Mona Lisa and Pollaiuolo's Portrait of a Girl
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Published on: October 4, 2016

Smiling emphasizes perceived distinctiveness of faces.

Satoru Kawamura1, Masashi Komori

  • 1Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, 1-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. satoru@hus.osaka-u.ac.jp

Perceptual and Motor Skills
|November 7, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Smiling faces are perceived as more distinctive than neutral faces, which may explain why they are better remembered. This study investigated facial distinctiveness and memory in Japanese observers.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Human Perception

Background:

  • Facial expression recognition is crucial for social interaction.
  • Previous research indicates enhanced memory for smiling faces compared to neutral faces.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of perceived distinctiveness in facial memory.
  • To compare the distinctiveness ratings of neutral and smiling facial expressions.

Main Methods:

  • 114 Japanese observers (56 male, 58 female) participated.
  • Participants rated the distinctiveness of 48 neutral and 48 smiling faces.
  • Statistical analysis was used to compare distinctiveness ratings.

Main Results:

  • Smiling faces were rated as significantly more distinctive than neutral faces.
  • Perceived distinctiveness varied between expressions.

Conclusions:

  • Greater perceived distinctiveness of smiling faces may underlie their enhanced memorability.
  • Facial expression influences perceived distinctiveness and subsequent memory recall.