Variability of facial movements in relation to sexual dimorphism and age: three-dimensional geometric morphometric study.

Variability of facial movements in relation to sexual dimorphism and age: three-dimensional geometric morphometric study. Homo. 2018 Jun 12;: Authors: Velemínská J, Danková S, Břízová M, Červenková L, Krajíček V Abstract The aim of this study was to introduce suitable imaging technique and analytical methods for a detailed description of the facial movements in relation to sexual dimorphism and age in adult individuals. Removing of size factor from the analysis, we hypothesised that there will be no significant intersexual difference in facial mobility. We assume facial movements to be more pronounced in the older age category due to increasing the facial surface. We have compared five facial movements - raising eyebrows, closing eyes, pursing of the lips, inflating of the cheeks and smile - in relation to neutral expression of the human face. The material sample comprised three-dimensional facial surface models of healthy adult individuals of the Czech nationality (63 females, 58 males). Methods of geometric morphometry and multivariate statistics were used. Local tissue motion due to facial movements was expressed using colour-coded maps. The movement showing significant intersexual difference was inflating of the cheeks. Ageing in both sexes has significantly influenced the facial mobility on average after 50 years of age. Changes related to senescence have occurred in eye closing, smile and inflating of the cheeks. An...
Source: Homo - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: Homo Source Type: research