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Losing face? Facial activity during evaluative stress is characterized by rigidity, tension and unpredictability
Jost U Blasberg1, Julia Thaler2, Veronika Engert1
1Institute of Psychosocial Medicine, Psychotherapy and Psychooncology, Jena University Clinic, Jena, Germany; German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), partner site Halle-Jena-Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Intervention and Research in adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C), Halle-Jena, Magdeburg, , Germany.
Psychoneuroendocrinology
|May 28, 2026
Summary
Detecting psychosocial stress using facial expressions offers a cost-effective diagnostic tool. Acute stress reduced specific facial muscle activity (action units) during a social stress test, indicating potential for stress monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychophysiology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Psychosocial stress can lead to health disorders, necessitating cost-effective detection methods.
- Facial expressions are key indicators of affective states, including acute stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in facial activity between individuals under acute psychosocial stress and a control group.
- To explore the potential of facial activity analysis for stress detection.
Main Methods:
- 126 adults underwent either the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or a placebo TSST, with video recording.
- Facial activity was analyzed via action unit (AU) detection; physiological and subjective stress measures were also collected.
Main Results:
- Participants under acute stress exhibited significantly reduced activity in specific facial action units (AU04, AU06, AU07, AU12) during the talk, but not math, portion of the TSST.
- No significant differences in facial activity were observed based on participant sex.
- Facial behavior did not significantly covary with physiological or psychological stress reactivity.
Conclusions:
- Reduced facial muscle activity during evaluative stress is a potential indicator of acute psychosocial stress.
- Facial expression analysis presents a promising avenue for developing easy-to-implement, cost-effective stress detection tools.
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