Action Unit 43 - Eye Closure - Optional

---

Although scoring AU 43 is optional, we strongly suggest scoring AU 43 at the E intensity when it occurs.

The same muscle, which when contracted raises the upper eyelid (AU 5) and when partially relaxed lets it droop, allows the eye to close when totally relaxed. There should be no sign of tension in the eyelids, no evidence of a 7. Later in the description of combinations, you will learn how to score 6+43E or 7+43E for tense or tight eye closures.

Notice that the intensity scoring of AU 5 and AU 43 refer to the normal eye aperture. When the opening becomes greater than normal, AU 5 should be scored; when less than normal, AU 43 might be scored. Thus, the intensity scoring for AU 43 in relation to muscular contraction is opposite to that of AU 5. In AU 43, the more the muscle relaxes, the higher the intensity score; correspondingly, the more the appearance of 43 is evident, the higher the intensity score for AU 43.

A. Appearance Changes due to AU 43

1. The eyelid droops down reducing the eye aperture.

2. More surface of the upper eyelid is exposed than usual. In some people part of the upper lid is always visible, but more becomes exposed as the upper eyelid relaxes.

3. If the lid is not just drooped, but additionally there is some very limited tightening of the lids or lifting of the lower lid (due to AU 7), AU 43 is scored with AU 7 (see combinations 6+43 and 7+43 on page 62).

4. In AU 43E, the eyes are completely closed, but there is no sign of tension in the lids and no squeezing or tightening. If there are such signs of tightening or tension, score 43E with 6 or 7.

Inspect the images showing various intensities of AU 43. Image 43i shows a 43B, 43ii shows 43D, 43iii shows 43E.

0 page 465	43i page 469	43ii page 469	43iii page 469
page 381 for score	page 385 for score	page 385 for score	page 385 for score

B. How to do AU 43

This movement is easy to make. First, try to do only a small amount of AU 43. Let your eyelid relax and droop in a sleepy way, without looking downwards. As motivation, you might think of the hypnotist's suggestion "your eyes are getting heavier." When you do this movement, you may not be able to see yourself in a mirror. Have someone else check you or try to relax only one upper eyelid while checking yourself.

Then, let your upper eyelid relax almost completely, so that just the barest slit of an opening remains (43D). You will not be able to see yourself do this. Observe it on another person. Often you can see no iris at all, but you can see that the upper eyelashes are not resting upon the lower eyelashes.

Finally, close your eyes without squeezing. You can observe this action on another person. Try closing one eye so you can look in the mirror at it yourself with the other eye. This range of distance between the upper and lower eyelids due to relaxing of the upper eyelid, from a trace less than the normal opening to closed, is what you will use to score the intensities of AU 43.

C. Intensity Scoring for AU 43

At all levels of intensity, eyes must remain fully or partially closed for more than be attributable to eye positions (e.g., looking down, AU 64).

AU 43A

The appearance changes for AU 43 are sufficiently present to indicate the lowering of the upper eyelid of AU 43, but are insufficient to score 43B (e.g., a trace increase in upper eyelid exposure and slightly narrowed eye aperture). However, the eyelid must remain in the scored position for

AU 43B

1. There is a slight increase in the amount of upper eyelid exposure that is not merely the result of a 1+2
and

2. The eye aperture is markedly less wide than usual.

AU 43C

The increase of upper eyelid exposure must be at least marked and the decrease in eye aperture must be at least pronounced, but the signs are insufficient to score 43D.

AU 43D

1. The eye aperture is almost as narrowed as possible without being closed.
and

2. The eyelids are relaxed, not tensed.

AU 43E

1. The eyes are definitely closed as manifested by the upper and lower lids touching for more than
If the action is unilateral:

2. Eye must remain closed more than 2 seconds.
or

3. If the eye closure duration is more than for scoring AU 46 are met.

If there is any doubt about whether the eyes are closed, do not score 43E, but score 43D. See the section on Subtle Differences between 43D and 43E.

Reference: AU 43

Problematic Combination of AUs	Target Action of Adjusted Criteria	Use These Criteria or See the Section Indicated
1+2+43	Criterion for scoring 43A or 43B in 1+2+43	Raising the brows causes some of the upper eyelid to be exposed. To score 43A or 43B with 1+2, the upper eyelid must have been relaxed to expose more eyelid than could be due to 1+2 alone.
6+43, 7+43	Criterion for scoring 43E in 6+43E, 7+43E:	Eyes are definitely closed. With AU 6 they are squeezed closed, accompanied by the cheek raising of AU 6; with AU 7 they are tightened closed by the constricting action of AU 7 immediately around the eyelids.
6+L43E, 6+R43E	Criterion for scoring a Unilateral 43E with 6:	The eye that is closed is squeezed shut for more than 2 seconds, accompanied by the cheek raising of AU 6.
7+R43E, 7+L43E	Criterion for scoring an Unilateral 43E with 7:	The eye that is closed is tightened shut for more than 2 seconds.

Action Units or Combinations That Change the Intensity Scoring for AU 43