Facial Action Coding System (FACS) is a system to taxonomize human facial

movements by their appearance on the face, based on a system originally

developed by a Swedish anatomist named Carl-Herman Hjortsj. [1] It was later
adopted by Paul Ekman and Wallace V. Friesen, and published in 1978. [2] Ekman,
Friesen, and Joseph C. Hager published a significant update to FACS in 2002.
[3]

Movements of individual facial muscles are encoded by FACS from slight different

instant changes in facial appearance.[4] It is a common standard to systematically

categorize the physical expression of emotions, and it has proven useful
topsychologists and to animators. Due to subjectivity and time consumption issues,
FACS has been established as a computed automated system that detects faces in
videos, extracts the geometrical features of the faces, and then produces temporal
profiles of each facial movement.[4]
Contents
[hide]

1 Uses

2 Codes for Action Units

2.1 Intensity Scoring

o
o

2.2 List of Action Units and Action Descriptors (with underlying facial
muscles)

2.2.1 Main Codes

2.2.2 Head Movement Codes

2.2.3 Eye Movement Codes

2.2.4 Visibility Codes

2.2.5 Gross Behavior Codes

3 See also

4 References

5 External links
Uses[edit]

Using FACS,[5] human coders can manually code nearly any anatomically possible
facial expression, deconstructing it into the specific Action Units (AU) and their
temporal segments that produced the expression. As AUs are independent of any
interpretation, they can be used for any higher order decision making process
including recognition of basic emotions, or pre-programmed commands for an
ambient intelligent environment. The FACS Manual is over 500 pages in length and
provides the AUs, as well as Ekman's interpretation of their meaning.
FACS defines AUs, which are a contraction or relaxation of one or more muscles. It
also defines a number of Action Descriptors, which differ from AUs in that the
authors of FACS have not specified the muscular basis for the action and have not
distinguished specific behaviors as precisely as they have for the AUs.
For example, FACS can be used to distinguish two types of smiles as follows:[6]

Insincere and voluntary Pan-Am smile: contraction of zygomatic major alone

Sincere and involuntary Duchenne smile: contraction of zygomatic major and

inferior part of orbicularis oculi.

Although the labeling of expressions currently requires trained experts, researchers

have had some success in using computers to automatically identify FACS codes,
and thus quickly identify emotions.[7] Computer graphical face models, such
as CANDIDE orArtnatomy, allow expressions to be artificially posed by setting the
desired action units.
The use of FACS has been proposed for use in the analysis of depression,[8] and the
measurement of pain in patients unable to express themselves verbally. [9]
FACS is designed to be self-instructional. People can learn the technique from a
number of sources including manuals and workshops, [10] and obtain certification
through testing.[11] The original FACS has been modified to analyze facial
movements in several non-human primates, namely chimpanzees,[12] rhesus
macaques,[13] gibbons and siamangs,[14] and orangutans.[15] More recently, it was
adapted for a domestic species, the dog.[16]
Thus, FACS can be used to compare facial repertoires across species due to its
anatomical basis. A study conducted by Vick and others (2006) suggests that FACS
can be modified by taking differences in underlying morphology into account. Such
considerations enable a comparison of the homologous facial movements present in
humans and chimpanzees, to show that the facial expressions of both species result
from extremely notable appearance changes. The development of FACS tools for

different species allows the objective and anatomical study of facial expressions in
communicative and emotional contexts. Furthermore, a cross-species analysis of
facial expressions can help to answer interesting questions, such as which emotions
are uniquely human.[17]
EMFACS (Emotional Facial Action Coding System)[18] and FACSAID (Facial Action
Coding System Affect Interpretation Dictionary)[19]consider only emotion-related
facial actions. Examples of these are:
Emotion

Action Units

Surprise

1+2+5B+26

Sadness

1+4+15

Happiness

6+12

Fear

1+2+4+5+7+20+26

Disgust

9+15+16

Contempt

R12A+R14A

Anger

4+5+7+23

Codes for Action Units[edit]

See also: List of muscles in the human body The muscles of the head
For clarification, FACS is an index of facial expressions, but does not actually provide
any bio-mechanical information about the degree of muscle activation. Though
muscle activation is not part of FACS, the main muscles involved in the facial
expression have been added here for the benefit of the reader.

Action Units (AUs) are the fundamental actions of individual muscles or groups of
muscles.
Action Descriptors (ADs) are unitary movements that may involve the actions of
several muscle groups (e.g., a forwardthrusting movement of the jaw). The
muscular basis for these actions hasn't been specified and specific behaviors
haven't been distinguished as precisely as for the AUs.
For most accurate annotation, FACS suggests agreement from at least two
independent certified FACS encoders.
Intensity Scoring[edit]
Intensities of FACS are annotated by appending letters AE (for minimal-maximal
intensity) to the Action Unit number (e.g. AU 1A is the weakest trace of AU 1 and AU
1E is the maximum intensity possible for the individual person).

A Trace

B Slight

C Marked or Pronounced

D Severe or Extreme

E Maximum

List of Action Units and Action Descriptors (with underlying facial muscles)
[edit]
Main Codes[edit]
AU
Numbe

FACS Name

Muscular Basis

Neutral face

Inner Brow
Raiser

frontalis (pars medialis)

AU
Numbe

FACS Name

Muscular Basis

Outer Brow
Raiser

Brow Lowerer

Upper Lid
Raiser

frontalis (pars lateralis)

depressor glabellae, depressor supercilii, corrugator

supercilii

levator palpebrae superioris, superior tarsal muscle

Cheek Raiser

orbicularis oculi (pars orbitalis)

Lid Tightener

orbicularis oculi (pars palpebralis)

10

11

12

Lips Toward
Each Other

Nose Wrinkler

Upper Lip
Raiser

Nasolabial
Deepener

Lip Corner

orbicularis oris

levator labii superioris alaeque nasi

levator labii superioris, caput infraorbitalis

zygomaticus minor

zygomaticus major

AU
Numbe

FACS Name

Muscular Basis

Puller

13

14

15

16

Sharp Lip
Puller

Dimpler

Lip Corner
Depressor

Lower Lip
Depressor

levator anguli oris (also known as caninus)

buccinator

depressor anguli oris (also known as triangularis)

depressor labii inferioris

17

Chin Raiser

mentalis

18

Lip Pucker

incisivii labii superioris and incisivii labii inferioris

19

Tongue Show

20

Lip Stretcher

21

Neck Tightener platysma

22

Lip Funneler

risorius w/ platysma

orbicularis oris

AU
Numbe

FACS Name

Muscular Basis

23

Lip Tightener

orbicularis oris

24

Lip Pressor

orbicularis oris

25

Lips Part

26

Jaw Drop

masseter; relaxed temporalis and internal pterygoid

27

Mouth Stretch

pterygoids, digastric

28

Lip Suck

orbicularis oris

29

Jaw Thrust

30

Jaw Sideways

31

Jaw Clencher

32

[Lip] Bite

33

[Cheek] Blow

depressor labii inferioris, or relaxation

of mentalis or orbicularis oris

masseter

AU
Numbe

FACS Name

Muscular Basis

34

[Cheek] Puff

35

[Cheek] Suck

36

[Tongue] Bulge

37

Lip Wipe

38

Nostril Dilator

39

41

42

43

44

45

Nostril
Compressor

nasalis (pars alaris)

nasalis (pars transversa) and depressor septi nasi

Glabella

Separate Strand of AU 4: depressor

Lowerer

glabellae (aka procerus)

Inner Eyebrow
Lowerer

Eyes Closed

Eyebrow
Gatherer

Blink

Separate Strand of AU 4: depressor supercilii

Relaxation of levator palpebrae superioris

Separate Strand of AU 4: corrugator supercilli

Relaxation of levator palpebrae superioris; contraction

AU
Numbe

FACS Name

Muscular Basis

of orbicularis oculi (pars palpebralis)

46

Wink

orbicularis oculi

Head Movement Codes[edit]

AU
Numb
er

51

52

FACS
Name

Action

Head Turn
Left

Head Turn
Right

53

Head Up

54

Head Down

55

Head Tilt Left

M55

Head Tilt Left

The onset of the symmetrical 14 is immediately preceded

or accompanied by a head tilt to the left.

AU
Numb
er

56

M56

57

M57

58

M59

M60

FACS

Action

Name

Head Tilt
Right

Head Tilt

The onset of the symmetrical 14 is immediately preceded

Right

or accompanied by a head tilt to the right.

Head
Forward

Head Thrust

The onset of 17+24 is immediately preceded,

Forward

accompanied, or followed by a head thrust forward.

Head Back

Head Shake
Up and Down

The onset of 17+24 is immediately preceded,

accompanied, or followed by an up-down head shake
(nod).

Head Shake

The onset of 17+24 is immediately preceded,

Side to Side

accompanied, or followed by a side to side head shake.

Head Upward The onset of the symmetrical 14 is immediately preceded

M83

and to the

or accompanied by a movement of the head, upward and

Side

turned and/or tilted to either the left or right.

Eye Movement Codes[edit]

AU
Numb
er

FACS

61

Eyes Turn Left

M61

Eyes Left

62

preceded or accompanied by eye movement to the left.

Right

Eyes Right

63

Eyes Up

64

Eyes Down

65

Walleye

66

Cross-eye

69

The onset of the symmetrical 14 is immediately

Eyes Turn

M62

M68

Action

Name

Upward Rolling
of Eyes

The onset of the symmetrical 14 is immediately

preceded or accompanied by eye movement to the right.

The onset of the symmetrical 14 is immediately

preceded or accompanied by an upward rolling of the
eyes.

Eyes

The 4, 5, or 7, alone or in combination, occurs while the

Positioned to

eye position is fixed on the other person in the

AU
Numb
er

FACS

Look at Other
Person

Head and/or
M69

Action

Name

Eyes Look at
Other Person

conversation.

The onset of the symmetrical 14 or AUs 4, 5, and 7,

alone or in combination, is immediately preceded or
accompanied by a movement of the eyes or of the head
and eyes to look at the other person in the conversation.

Visibility Codes[edit]
AU Number

FACS Name

70

Brows and forehead not visible

71

Eyes not visible

72

Lower face not visible

73

Entire face not visible

74

Unscorable

Gross Behavior Codes[edit]

These codes are reserved for recording information about gross behaviors that may
be relevant to the facial actions that are scored.

AU Number

FACS Name

40

Sniff

50

Speech

80

Swallow

81

Chewing

82

Shoulder shrug

84

Head shake back and forth

85

Head nod up and down

91

Flash

92

Partial flash

97*

Shiver/Tremble

98*

Fast up-down look

See also[edit]

Microexpression

Facial feedback hypothesis

Facial electromyography

Computer facial animation

Facial muscles

Computer processing of body language