Microexpressions

Microexpressions are fleeting facial expressions that reveal a person’s true emotions, often lasting less than half a second. They can occur even when someone is trying to hide how they feel, making them a powerful tool in understanding deception, stress, or unspoken reactions. These tiny cues can include a flicker of anger, a suppressed smile, or a flash of fear—barely perceptible, yet highly informative.

Dr. Paul Ekman is the leading researcher in the field of microexpressions. His pioneering work in the 1960s and beyond established that certain facial expressions of emotion are universal across cultures. He created the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), a tool used by psychologists, law enforcement, and even actors to study and decode facial movements. Ekman’s research revealed that emotions such as happiness, anger, disgust, surprise, fear, and sadness are hardwired into human biology—and that we express them involuntarily.

Microexpressions have been widely studied in the context of lie detection and emotional intelligence. While they can provide insights, interpreting them requires caution and skill. A single microexpression doesn’t always reveal the full truth; context matters. Still, people trained to spot them—such as forensic interviewers or therapists—can pick up on emotional cues that others miss, deepening understanding and trust.

For the everyday person, learning to observe microexpressions can foster empathy. It allows us to see beyond words and notice what someone might be feeling underneath. In a world where so much communication is digital and filtered, recognizing raw, unspoken emotion is both a science and a deeply human art.