The Mechanism of Human Facial Expression

by G. -B. Duchenne de Boulogne

Overview

In Mecanisme de la Physionomie Humaine, the great nineteenth-century French neurologist Duchenne de Boulogne combined his intimate knowledge of facial anatomy with his skill in photography and expertise in using electricity to stimulate individual facial muscles to produce a fascinating interpretation of the ways in which the human face portrays emotions. This book was pivotal in the development of psychology and physiology as it marked the first time that photography had been used to illustrate, and therefore "prove," a series of experiments. Duchenne's book, which contained over 100 original photographic prints pasted into an accompanying Album, was rare, even when it first appeared in 1862. Duchenne was a superb clinical neurologist and in this study he applied his enormous experience in neurological research to the question of the mechanism of human facial expression. Duchenne has been little cited and little known in this century; his book has been virtually unobtainable, and copies are available in only a few libraries in the United States and Europe.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521363921
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/27/1990
Series:	Studies in Emotion and Social Interaction
Pages:	308
Product dimensions:	6.38(w) x 9.65(h) x 0.79(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Contributors; Editor's preface; Part I. The Mechanism of Human Facial Expression or an Electrophysiological Analysis of the Expression of the Emotions: Preface; Section 1. Introduction: 1. A review of previous work on muscle action in facial expression; 2. Principle facts that emerge from my electrophysiological experiments; 3. The reliability of these experiments; 4. The purpose of my research; Section 2. Scientific Section: Foreword; 5. Anatomical preparations, and portraits of the subjects who underwent electrophysiological experiments; 6. The muscle of attention (m. frontalis); 7. The muscle of reflection (superior part of m. orbicularis oculi, that part of the muscle called the sphincter of the eyelids); 8. The muscle of aggression (m. procerus); 9. The muscle of pain (m. corrugator supercilii); 10. The muscles of joy and benevolence (m. zygomaticus major and the inferior part of m. orbicularis oculi); 11. The muscle of lasciviousness (transverse part of m. nasalis); 12. The muscle of sadness (m. depressor anguli oris); 13. The muscles of weeping and whimpering (m. zygomaticus minor and m. levator labii superioris); 14. Muscles complementary to surprise (muscles that lower the mandible); 15. The muscle of fright, of terror (m. platysma); 16. A critical study of several antiquities from the point of view of m. corrugator supercilii and m. frontalis; Section 3. Aesthetic Section: Foreword; 17. Aesthetic electrophysiological studies on the mechanism of human facial expression; 18. Further aesthetic electrophysiological studies; 19. Synoptic table on the plates of the Album; Part II. Commentary Chapters: 20. The highly original Dr Duchenne R. Andrew Cuthbertson; 21. The Duchenne de Boulogne collection in the department of morphology, L'Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts Jean-François Debord; 22. Duchenne today: facial expression and facial surgery John T. Hueston; 23. Duchenne and facial expression of emotion Paul Ekman; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...elegant and highly detailed work on the anatomy of facial expression..." Dr. Carroll E. Izard, Unidel Professor

"This book is a must for students of human facial expression." Leonard R. Rubin, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

"I would recommend this book most highly for its illustrations, especially to those interested in the interface of science and art, early photography, or the use of images in medicine." Maria Trumpler, Isis

From the Publisher