In 26W at 2A, Luke Chang
Facial expressions are a fundamental, powerful, and ubiquitous form of nonverbal communication, conveying rich information about emotional states, intentions, and social context. This culminating experience seminar delves into the multifaceted world of facial expressions, integrating perspectives from psychology, neuroscience, and computer science. We will investigate the intricate anatomical and neural machinery enabling the production and perception of expressions. We will also learn about core debates, including the universality versus cultural specificity of expressions, their potential evolutionary functions, and whether artificial intelligence systems can accurately perceive facial expressions. This course will be discussion based and will include group projects analyzing real datasets.
Prerequisites: PSYC 1 and instructor permission via the department website