A Human Face Asymmetries in Facial Actions
Title Page
Contents
Acknowledgements
Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
Summary and Conclusions
Tables
Appendix R
Appendix S
Appendix Y
References

TABLE 1

DISTRIBUTION OF AYSMMETRY FOR EACH ACTION UNIT BY MODE OF REQUEST, VERBAL DESCRIPTION VERSUS IMITATING A MODEL

AU 1 - INNER BROW RAISE

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

-

12

-

Right

-

10

-

Symmetrical

-

9

-

Total Ss

-

31

-

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

-

n.s.

-

AU 2 - OUTER BROW RAISE

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

-

8

-

Right

-

17

-

Symmetrical

-

7

-

Total Ss

-

32

-

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

-

n.s.

-

AU 1+2 - BROW RAISE

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

9

8

9

Right

20

20

22

Symmetrical

4

4

2

Total Ss

33

32

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

.06

.04

.03

AU 4 - LOWER BROW

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

14

14

18

Right

6

6

7

Symmetrical

12

11

7

Total Ss

32

31

32

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

n.s.

.04

AU 6 - SQUINT

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

5

-

-

Right

11

-

-

Symmetrical

13

-

-

Total Ss

29

-

-

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

-

-

AU 7 - SQUINT

Verbal
(in squint)

Visual

Combined

Left

7

14

16

Right

10

9

10

Symmetrical

16

8

7

Total Ss

33

31

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

AU 6+7 - SQUINT

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

10

-

-

Right

10

-

-

Symmetrical

13

-

-

Total Ss

33

-

-

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

-

-

AU 9 - WRINKLE NOSE

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

4

6

6

Right

15

15

20

Symmetrical

12

9

6

Total Ss

31

30

32

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

.02

.08

.01

AU 10 - RAISE UPPER LIP

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

12

9

14

Right

6

6

9

Symmetrical

4

1

2

Total Ss

22

16

25

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

AU 12 - SMILE

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

17

24

23

Right

11

6

10

Symmetrical

5

2

0

Total Ss

33

32

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

.001

.04

AU 15 - LOWER LIP CORNERS

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

-

4

-

Right

-

13

-

Symmetrical

-

8

-

Total Ss

-

25

-

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

-

.05

-

AU 16- LOWER LIP PULLED DOWN

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

-

7

-

Right

-

9

-

Symmetrical

-

12

-

Total Ss

-

28

-

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

-

n.s.

-

AU 20 - LIP STRETCHED TO SIDES

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

8

7

9

Right

10

19

20

Symmetrical

8

2

1

Total Ss

26

28

30

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

.03

.06

AU 45 - WINK

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

3

-

-

Right

4

-

-

Symmetrical

26

-

-

Total Ss

33

-

-

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

-

-

Eyes Closed (during blink)

Verbal

Visual

Combined

Left

7

-

-

Right

21

-

-

Symmetrical

5

-

-

Total Ss

33

-

-

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

.01

-

-

NOTE: All probabilities are two-tailed binomials, p=q, and are reported only if < .1. Combined scores were calculated by averaging scores for all the individual actions for both the verbal and visual requests, and are not totals or averages of the entries in the "Verbal" and "Visual" columns.

TABLE 2

DISTRIBUTION OF ASYMMETRY FOR EACH AU FOR FOUR MEASURES: BILATERAL ASYMMETRY, BETTER UNILATERAL CONTROL, FAVORED UNILATERAL SIDE, AND SIDE RATED EASIER

AU 1 - INNER BROW RAISE AU 2 - OUTER BROW RAISE

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better
Unilateral

Favored
Side

Rated
Easier

Left

12

8

8

6

Right

10

10

7

14

Symmetrical

9

13

13

13

Total Ss

31

31

28

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.


Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better
Unilateral

Favored
Side

Rated
Easier

Left

8

8

7

4

Right

17

16

17

12

Symmetrical

7

6

4

17

Total Ss

32

30

28

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

n.s.

.06

.08

AU 1+2 - BROW RAISE

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better
Unilateral

Favored
Side

Rated
Easier

Left

9

7

6

7

Right

22

19

18

12

Symmetrical

2

5

8

14

Total Ss

33

31

32

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

.03

.03

.02

n.s.

AU 4 - LOWER BROW

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better
Unilateral

Favored
Side

Rated
Easier

Left

18

8

6

6

Right

7

4

3

15

Symmetrical

7

17

20

12

Total Ss

32

29

29

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

.04

n.s.

n.s.

.08

AU 6/7- SQUINT

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better
Unilateral

Favored
Side

Rated
Easier

Left

10

15

15

7

Right

10

14

17

8

Symmetrical

13

4

1

18

Total Ss

33

33

33

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

AU 9 - NOSE WRINKLE

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better
Unilateral

Favored
Side

Rated
Easier

Left

6

14

9

9

Right

20

9

17

11

Symmetrical

6

6

3

13

Total Ss

32

29

29

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

.01

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

AU 10 - RAISE UPPER LIP

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better
Unilateral

Favored
Side

Rated
Easier

Left

14

15

12

12

Right

9

9

15

13

Symmetrical

2

5

2

8

Total Ss

25

29

29

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

n.s.

AU 12 - SMILE

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better
Unilateral

Favored
Side

Rated
Easier

Left

23

17

12

6

Right

10

5

21

6

Symmetrical

0

11

0

21

Total Ss

33

33

33

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

.04

.02

n.s.

n.s.

AU 20 - LIP STRETCH TO SIDES

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better
Unilateral

Favored
Side

Rated
Easier

Left

9

15

14

4

Right

20

6

17

5

Symmetrical

1

10

0

24

Total Ss

30

31

31

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

.06

.08

n.s.

n.s.

AU 45 - WINK/BLINK

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better
Unilateral

Favored
Side

Rated
Easier

Left

3

9

9

6

Right

4

9

24

9

Symmetrical

26

15

0

18

Total Ss

33

33

33

33

Lf vs. Rt Prob.

n.s.

n.s.

.01

n.s.

NOTE: Probability values are two-tailed binomials and are reported only when less than .1. See Figure 3 for definitions and discussion of scores.

TABLE 3

NUMBER OF REPETITIONS OF REQUESTED, BILATERAL ACTIONS RELATED TO THE PROPORTION OF ASYMMETRICAL ACTIONS AND THE PROPORTION OF ASYMMETRICAL ACTIONS THAT WERE LEFT STRONGER

First

Second

Next to Last

Last

Left

150

147

123

83

Right

208

190

174

92

Symmetrical

320

316

273

164

Left/Left+Right

.42

.44

.41

.47

Asymmetrical/Total

.53

.52

.52

.52

 

TABLE 4

SUMMARY OF LATERALITY BY ACTION FOR EACH ASYMMETRY MEASURE

Action
Unit (AU)

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better
Unilateral

Favored
Side

Rated
Easier

Side

%L

%R

Side

%L

%R

Side

%L

%R

Side

%L

%R

1

l

39

32

r

26

32

l

28

25

r

18

42

2

r

25

53

r

27

53

R

25

61

R

12

36

1+2

R*

27

67

R*

22

61

R*

19

56

r

21

36

4

L*

56

22

l

28

14

l

21

10

r

18

45

6/7

nd

30

30

l

45

42

r

45

52

r

21

24

9

R*

19

62

l

48

31

r

31

59

r

27

33

10

l

56

36

l

52

31

r

41

52

r

36

39

12

L*

70

30

L*

51

15

r

36

64

nd

18

18

20

R+

30

67

L

48

19

r

45

55

r

12

15

45

r

9

12

nd

27

27

R*

27

73

r

18

27

15

R*

16

52

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

16

r

25

32

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

eyes closed

R*

21

63

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

NOTE: In the column headed "Side", lower case denotes nominally more left (l) or right (r) subjects. Upper case denotes a difference with p<.1 (two-tailed binomial); nd denotes no difference in right vs left. In the columns headed "%L" and "%R" are the proportions of subjects who showed left and right asymmetry, respectively, of all subjects who showed the action. AUs 15, 16, and eye closure were not assessed in better unilateral, favored side, and ratings.

* p <.05 (two-tailed binomial)

+ AU 20 was significantly lateralized for the visual requests ( p < .05), but not when combined with the verbal requests ( p < .06).

TABLE 5

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE PROPORTION OF SUBJECTS WHO SHIFTED LATERALITY (RIGHT VS. LEFT) BETWEEN PAIRS OF ASYMMETRY MEASURES

Laterality Measures

AU

Net differences

Probability

Bilateral Asymmetry vs Rated Easier

4

More right in Ratings

<.05

Better Unilateral vs Favored Side

12

More right in Favored Side

<.05

Bilateral Asymmetry vs Favored Side

12

More right in Favored Side

<.01

Better Unilateral vs Bilateral Asymmetry

9

More right in Bilateral

<.05

Better Unilateral vs Favored Side

20

More right in Favored Side

<.05

 

TABLE 6

CORRELATIONS BETWEEN MEASURES OF ASYMMETRY

Raise Inner Corners of Brow (AU 1)

Rated
Easier

Favored
Side

Bilateral
# Asymmetry
(Visual AU 1)

Better Unilateral

r=

.429

.673

.498

p=

.016

.0001

.004

N=

31

27

31

Side Rated Easier

r=

.302

.122

p=

 

ns

ns

N=

 

28

31

Favored Side

r=

.508

p=

 

 

.007

N=

 

 

27

Raise Outer Corners of Brow (AU 2)

Rated
Easier

Favored
Side

Bilateral
Asymmetry
(Visual AU 2)

Better Unilateral

r=

.571

.675

.667

p=

.001

.0001

.0001

N=

30

27

30

Side Rated Easier

r=

.484

.341

p=

 

.009

.056

N=

 

28

32

Favored Side

r=

.568

p=

 

 

.002

N=

 

 

28

Brow Raise (AUs 1+2)

Rated
Easier

Favored
Side

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better Unilateral

r=

.275

.562

.463

 

p=

ns

.001

.009

 

N=

31

31

31

Side Rated Easier

r=

.732

.109

p=

 

.001

ns

N=

 

32

33

Favored Side

r=

.247

p=

 

 

ns

N=

 

 

32

Lower Brow (AU 4)

Rated
Easier

Favored
Side

Bilateral
# Asymmetry

Better Unilateral #

r=

.012

.367

.598

p=

ns

.055

.001

N=

29

28

29

Side Rated Easier

r=

.122

.371

p=

 

ns

.036

N=

 

29

32

Favored Side

r=

.312

p=

 

 

.099

N=

 

 

29

Squint (AUs 6+7)

Rated
Easier

Favored
Side

Bilateral
Asymmetry #
(AU 7 in SQ & WK)

Better Unilateral

r=

.609

.438

.291

p=

.002

.011

.099

N=

33

33

33

Side Rated Easier

r=

.275

.424

p=

 

ns

ns

N=

 

33

33

Favored Side

r=

-.018

p=

 

 

ns

N=

 

 

33

Nose Wrinkle (AU 9)

Rated
Easier

Favored
Side

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better Unilateral

r=

.604

.554

.307

p=

.0005

.002

ns

N=

29

28

28

Side Rated Easier

r=

.508

.266

p=

 

.005

ns

N=

 

29

32

Favored Side

r=

.245

p=

 

 

ns

N=

 

 

28

Lip Raise (AU 10)

Rated
Easier

Favored
Side

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better Unilateral

r=

.492

.690

.570

p=

.007

.0001

.003

N=

29

28

25

Side Rated Easier

r=

.662

.152

p=

 

.001

ns

N=

 

29

25

Favored Side

r=

.416

p=

 

 

.043

N=

 

 

24

Smile (AU 12) Rated Favored

Rated
Easier#

Favored
Side

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better Unilateral #

r=

.324

.248

.430

p=

.065

ns

.012

N=

33

33

33

Side Rated Easier

r=

.150

.387

p=

 

ns

.026

N=

 

33

33

Favored Side

r=

.178

p=

 

 

ns

N=

 

 

33

Lip Stretch (AU 20)

Rated
Easier#

Favored
Side

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better Unilateral

r=

.364

.135

.210

p=

.044

ns

ns

N=

31

29

28

Side Rated Easier

r=

.093

-.076

p=

 

ns

ns

N=

 

31

30

Favored Side

r=

.024

p=

 

 

ns

N=

 

 

28

Blink/Wink (AU 45)

Rated
Easier

Favored
Side

Bilateral
Asymmetry #

Better Unilateral

r=

.600

.425

-.004

p=

.0002

.014

ns

N=

33

33

33

Side Rated Easier

r=

.505

.113

p=

 

.003

ns

N=

 

33

33

Favored Side

r=

-.194

p=

 

 

ns

N=

 

 

33

Total Eyes Closed During Blink/Wink

Rated
Easier
(for Wink)

Favored
Side

Bilateral
Asymmetry

Better Unilateral

r=

.621

.345

.061

p=

.0001

.014

ns

N=

33

33

33

Side Rated Easier (for Wink)

r=

.405

-.127

p=

 

.019

ns

N=

 

33

33

Favored Side

r=

.028

p=

 

 

ns

N=

 

 

33

 

# The two actions requested which had the lowest variance in each condition are marked with #. This low variance could explain some of the low correlations, but not others.

NOTE: Probability values are reported only when less than .1. See Figure 3 for definitions of scores.

TABLE 7

NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT CORRELATIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT ASYMMETRY MEASURES IN TABLE 6, EXCLUDING TIMING OF EYELID CLOSURE
(maximum 10 posible in each cell)

Better Unilateral

Rated Easier

Favored Side

Bilateral Asymmetry

Better Unilateral

-

7

7

6

Rated Easier

7

-

5

3

Favored Side

7

5

-

3

Bilateral Asymmetry

6

3

3

-

Totals

20

15

15

12

TABLE 8

FACTORS AND LOADINGS FOR TWO ANALYSES REGARDING ASYMMETRY OF BILATERAL AND UNILATERAL ACTIONS

Factor 1

Factor 2

Average Favored Side

0.804

-0.038

Average Better Unilateral

0.773

0.385

Average Rated Easier

0.798

0.054

Average Visual Asymmetry

0.252

0.846

Average Verbal Asymmetry

-0.059

0.920

Cumulative proportion of variance

.389

.732

Factor 1

Factor 2

Factor 3

Average Favored Side

0.797

0.118

0.369

Average Better Unilateral

0.778

0.365

0.083

Average Rated Easier

0.804

0.103

-0.319

Average Visual Asymmetry

0.270

0.840

0.006

Average Verbal Asymmetry

0.047

0.903

0.200

Average Simulation Asymmetry

-0.035

0.180

0.930

Cumulative proportion of variance

.398

.636

.804

NOTE: Highest factor score is bold for each variable.

TABLE 9

SIGNIFICANT CORRELATIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT ACTION UNITS WITHIN EACH SET OF ASYMMETRY MEASURES

Better Unilateral

Favored Side

Ratings

Bilateral Asymmetry

AU1 + AU2

 

AU1 + AU2

 

AU1 + AU1+2

AU1 + AU1+2

AU1 + AU1+2

 

 

 

AU1 + AU4

 

AU1 + AU12

 

 

AU1 + AU12

AU2 + AU1+2

AU2 + AU1+2

AU2 + AU1+2

AU2 + AU1+2

 

 

 

AU1+2 + AU12

AU2 + AU9

 

 

 

AU4 - AU9

 

 

 

 

 

 

AU4 - AU10

 

 

AU4 + AU12

 

 

 

 

AU4 + AU45

 

AU6/7 + AU9

 

 

 

AU6/7 + AU10

AU6/7 + AU10

 

AU6/7 + AU20

AU6/7 + AU20

AU6/7 + AU20

 

AU6/7 + AU45

AU6/7 + AU45

AU6/7 + AU45

 

AU9 + AU10

AU9 + AU10

AU9 + AU10

AU9 + AU10

 

AU9 + AU12

 

 

 

AU9 + AU20

AU9 + AU20

 

 

AU9 + AU45

AU9 + AU45

 

 

 

AU10 + AU20

 

AU10 + AU45

AU10 + AU45

AU10 + AU45

AU10 - AU45

 

 

AU20 + AU45

 

NOTE: Table shows significant relations at p <= .05 where a + between entries indicates a positive relation and a - between entries indicates a negative relation.

TABLE 10

FACTORS AND LOADINGS FOR EACH ACTION UNIT WITHIN FOUR ASYMMETRY MEASURES

Factor 1

Factor 2

Factor 3

AU 1

-0.062

0.846

0.021

AU 2

0.165

0.762

0.018

AU 1+2

0.075

0.725

0.188

AU 4

- 0.787

0.349

0.187

AU 6/7

0.136

-0.057

0.922

AU 9

0.740

0.211

0.275

AU 10

0.741

0.213

0.159

AU 12

0.027

0.552

0.003

AU 20

-0.042

0.032

0.634

AU 45

0.341

0.295

0.630

Cumulative variance proportion

.189

.432

.614

Factor 1

Factor 2

Factor 3

AU 1

-0.082

0.317

0.679

AU 2

0.202

0.872

0.054

AU 1+2

0.000

0.889

0.209

AU4

0.036

0.035

-0.801

AU 6/7

0.781

-0.037

-0.270

AU 9

0.823

0.170

0.333

AU 10

0.623

0.328

-0.109

AU 12

0.514

-0.033

0.030

AU 20

0.553

-0.465

0.338

AU 45

0.674

0.060

-0.358

Cumulative variance proportion

.275

.476

.635

Factor 1

Factor 2

Factor 3

AU 1

0.099

0.688

0.388

AU 2

0.103

0.854

-0.003

AU 1+2

-0.062

0.879

0.251

AU 4

0.205

0.178

0.769

AU 6/7

0.764

-0.175

0.160

AU 9

0.710

0.087

0.167

AU 10

0.742

0.263

0.031

AU 12

0.076

0.152

0.788

AU 20

0.720

0.336

0.006

AU 45

0.885

-0.204

0.122

Cumulative variance proportion

.301

.530

.680

Factor 1

Factor 2

Factor 3

AU 1

0.317

0.534

0.184

AU 2

0.060

0.081

0.850

AU

1+2 0.050

0.396

0.710

AU 4

0.898

-0.026

0.082

AU 6/7

0.035

0.567

-0.066

AU 9

-0.342

0.545

0.136

AU 10

-0.786

0.022

0.075

AU 12

0.009

0.770

0.108

AU 20

0.089

0.435

-0.552

AU 45

0.787

0.127

0.058

Cumulative variance proportion

.228

.414

.576

NOTE: Highest factor loading is bold for each factor.

TABLE 11

SIGNIFICANT CORRELATIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT ACTION UNITS BETWEEN DIFFERENT SETS OF ASYMMETRY MEASURES

Better Unilateral vs. Favored Side

Better Unilateral vs. Ratings

Better Unilateral vs. Bilateral Asymmetry

Favored Side vs. Ratings

Favored Side vs.Bilateral Asymmetry

Ratings vs. Bilateral Asymmetry

AU1 + AU1/2

AU2 + AU1

AU2 + AU1/2

AU1 + AU1/2

AU9 - AU4

AU1 - AU20

AU2 + AU1/2

AU2 + AU1/2

AU1/2 + AU1

AU2 + AU1/2

AU10 - AU4

AU6/7 + AU9

AU1/2 + AU2

AU6/7 + AU20

AU1/2 + AU2

AU1/2 + AU2

AU12 + AU2

AU20 + AU1/2

AU4 - AU9

AU6/7 + AU45

AU10 - AU4

AU12 + AU9

AU45 - AU4

AU20 + AU9

AU6/7 + AU4

AU9 + AU10

AU12 + AU2

AU20 + AU9

 

AU45 + AU9

AU10 + AU6/7

AU9 + AU20

AU12 + AU1/2

AU20 + AU45

 

 

AU10 + AU9

AU10 + AU45

AU20 + AU9

AU45 + AU6/7