The perception of smiles

Abstract

Os made magnitude estimates of the smiles on photographs of faces exposed for various durations. Very brief exposures (.02 sec) resulted in discriminability of smiles equivalent to that obtained with unlimited exposure. Repeated presentation of a face did not alter the magnitude estimates, and the high level of discriminability under brief exposures occurred even when recognition of the faces (old-new) was poor. Perception of a smile appears to occur extremely rapidly, perhaps as a wholistic process. © 1972, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.