The Mechanism of Human Facial Expression

Written in 1862, this work records an attempt to interpret the ways in which the face portrays emotions, combining photography and the use of electricity to stimulate facial muscles. This translation reproduces the photographs and includes commentaries examining the modern relevance of the work.

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In M nisme 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. In this volume, Andrew Cuthbertson has provided an English translation of Duchenne, complete with a reproduction of the marvellous Album of photographs. The four commentary chapters by modern experts describe the relevance of Duchenne's findings to the fields of experimental psychology, plastic surgery, neurology and physiology. This book will therefore be valued by all those who deal with facial expression, including psychologists, physicians and those involved in the fine arts and photography.

Résumé
Andrew Cuthbertson provides an English translation of the great French neurologist Duchenne de Boulogne's Mécanisme de la physionomie humaine.

Contenu
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.