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Examining Mammalian facial behavior using Facial Action Coding Systems (FACS) and combinatorics
Aisha Mahmoud1, Lauren Scott2, Brittany N Florkiewicz3
1Department of Computer and Data Science, Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas, United States of America.
Plos One
|January 27, 2025
Summary
Researchers found that chimpanzees and cats can produce thousands of facial configurations, many undocumented. This study highlights the potential for complex communication in mammals and improves facial action coding systems (FACS) accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Ethology
- Bioacoustics
- Animal Communication
Background:
- Standardized coding of mammalian facial movements, like Facial Action Coding Systems (FACS), is gaining traction.
- Current FACS studies quantify distinct facial signals but may not capture the full range of possible facial configurations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the completeness of existing literature on facial signals in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus).
- To determine the potential range of facial configurations in these species based on anatomical capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Adhered to FACS manual coding guidelines based on mammalian facial anatomy.
- Created a comprehensive list of all potential facial configurations for the studied species.
Main Results:
- Chimpanzees and domestic cats may possess the capability to produce thousands of facial configurations.
- A significant number of these potential facial configurations remain undocumented in current research.
Conclusions:
- Existing literature may underestimate the full repertoire of mammalian facial communication.
- Further research and video analysis are needed to uncover potentially communicative facial configurations.
- Findings can aid in evaluating FACS coding accuracy and understanding the evolution of complex mammalian communication.
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