Recognition of static and dynamic facial expressions: a study review

Abstract

In emotion research, criticism has been directed to the use of static facial expressions, especially concerning its supposedly low ecological validity. In the present work, we performed a review of studies that directly compared the recognition of emotions using static and dynamic facial expressions. Behavioral, neuroimaging, brain damage and facial electromyography studies, published since 1993 were included. Overall, facial motion seems to promote emotional recognition. Neuroimaging and brain damage studies sustain the idea of a dissociation between the systems responsible to process static and dynamic expressions. Electromyography studies indicated that dynamic expressions tend to elicit more intense responses of facial mimic and are related to a higher physiological activation. Those findings support the hypothesis that dynamic facial expressions are ecologically more valid and therefore more appropriate to emotion research.