Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Facial Feedback Hypothesis01:24

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

121
Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role...
121
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

5.0K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
5.0K
Fixed Action Patterns01:06

Fixed Action Patterns

15.8K
A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
15.8K
Nonconscious Mimicry01:13

Nonconscious Mimicry

4.5K
Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.
4.5K
Masking and Demasking Agents01:19

Masking and Demasking Agents

2.3K
EDTA titrations may necessitate masking and demasking agents to temporarily protect a particular metal ion in a mixture from the EDTA reaction. These agents facilitate the sequential analysis of the metal ions by forming stable complexes with some—but not all—metal ions during certain steps.
There are many masking agents, such as cyanide, fluoride, triethanolamine, thiourea, and 2,3-bis(sulfanyl)propan-1-ol (formerly 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol), with the masking agent chosen based on...
2.3K
Muscles for Facial Expressions01:14

Muscles for Facial Expressions

1.8K
The craniofacial muscles are a collection of approximately 20 thin skeletal muscles situated beneath the skin of the face and scalp. These muscles, primarily responsible for the vast array of human facial expressions, originate from the bones or fibrous structures of the skull and extend outwards to connect with the skin. While most skeletal muscles in the body are enveloped in thick fascia, facial muscles generally have a more delicate fascial covering, with the buccinator muscle being a...
1.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Culturally biased norms, discriminatory outcomes: Why developmental psychology must go WILD.

The Behavioral and brain sciences·2026
Same author

The tokophobia severity scale: a psychometric multicountry study with childbearing-age women.

Archives of women's mental health·2026
Same author

Methodological guidance on clinical prediction models in mental health research.

Psychological medicine·2026
Same author

Challenges of Pain in Parkinson's Disease: Results from the OCEAN Study.

Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society·2026
Same author

Aneurysmal Bone Cyst of the Coracoid Process: A Case Report.

Case reports in orthopedics·2026
Same author

Sedative and Cardiovascular Effects of Vatinoxan During Medetomidine-Midazolam-Ketamine Administration in Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) and Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Journal of medical primatology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2025

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face
08:15

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

6.8K

GorillaFACS: The Facial Action Coding System for the Gorilla spp.

Catia Correia-Caeiro1,2, Raquel Costa3,4,5, Misato Hayashi3

  • 1Human Biology & Primate Cognition Department, Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.

Plos One
|January 28, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed GorillaFACS, an objective tool to measure gorilla facial movements. This system, based on the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), reveals a complex facial repertoire crucial for understanding gorilla communication and welfare.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Investigating Vocal Information Representation in Small Primates and Its Alteration by Psychiatric Disorders Using Noninvasive EEG
07:52

Author Spotlight: Investigating Vocal Information Representation in Small Primates and Its Alteration by Psychiatric Disorders Using Noninvasive EEG

Published on: July 26, 2024

593
Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
07:08

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

8.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2025

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face
08:15

Reverse Dissection and DiceCT Reveal Otherwise Hidden Data in the Evolution of the Primate Face

Published on: January 7, 2019

6.8K
Author Spotlight: Investigating Vocal Information Representation in Small Primates and Its Alteration by Psychiatric Disorders Using Noninvasive EEG
07:52

Author Spotlight: Investigating Vocal Information Representation in Small Primates and Its Alteration by Psychiatric Disorders Using Noninvasive EEG

Published on: July 26, 2024

593
Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
07:08

Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings

Published on: August 1, 2018

8.2K

Area of Science:

  • Primatology
  • Ethology
  • Comparative Psychology

Background:

  • The Facial Action Coding System (FACS) objectively measures human facial behavior by analyzing muscle-linked movements (Action Units, AUs).
  • FACS has been adapted for various species, but not yet for gorillas, hindering cross-species facial expression research.
  • Understanding gorilla facial expressions is vital for their communication and social interaction studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a Gorilla-specific Facial Action Coding System (GorillaFACS) for objective measurement of gorilla facial movements.
  • To enable cross-species comparative studies of facial expressions within and beyond the ape lineage.
  • To enhance the understanding of gorilla social communication and welfare assessment.

Main Methods:

  • Examined the facial muscular anatomy of gorillas.
  • Analyzed extensive video footage of gorillas in diverse contexts to identify spontaneous facial movements.
  • Classified identified facial movements based on visual changes and underlying musculature, similar to human FACS methodology.

Main Results:

  • Identified a repertoire of 42 distinct facial movements in gorillas, comprising 28 Action Units (AUs) and 14 Action Descriptors.
  • Discovered several new facial movements not present in the HumanFACS.
  • The total number of AUs (28) is comparable to HumanFACS (32), with a broader range of movements than initially expected.

Conclusions:

  • GorillaFACS provides a standardized, objective tool for quantifying gorilla facial behavior.
  • The extensive repertoire suggests a more significant role for facial expressions in gorilla social interactions than previously understood.
  • GorillaFACS will facilitate deeper insights into gorilla communication, social behavior, and welfare, especially in human-gorilla proximity settings.