Express Yourself

When primates pull faces they tell you a lot more than words alone could, say Anup Shah, Fiona Rogers and Dr Ben Garrod.

- Anup Shah, Fiona Rogers and Dr Ben Garrod

Whether it’s a slightly raised flirty eyebrow, an annoyed narrowing of the eyes, a furrowed brow or angrily bared teeth, we are a social species heavily reliant on nonverbal communication. But while body language is hugely important, it is our faces that paint the fullest picture. With a large number of muscles, our faces can convey both extreme and subtle facial expressions, depending what we want to say. Group living is not easy, so it’s crucial that as an individual you’re able to keep others happy or show them you’re not to be messed with (de