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Expressive smiles or leucosignals?

Authors :
Bouissac, Paul
Source :
Behavioral & Brain Sciences. Dec2010, Vol. 33 Issue 6, p436-437. 2p.
Publication Year :
2010

Abstract

The assumption that a complex and fuzzy notion like smile can be the basis of a scientific, rather than semantic, inquiry can only lead to confused and inconclusive results. It would be more productive to start with the well-defined and measurable patterns of the clearly visible contrasts that are produced on the human face by various muscular contractions around the white patches formed by the sclera and the teeth. These features are universal, whereas a common word, in whatever language, is necessarily ambiguous, culture-dependent, and historically rather than biologically determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0140525X
Volume :
33
Issue :
6
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Behavioral & Brain Sciences
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
57305436
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X10001627