New research shows emotional expressions work differently in autism

[Kamaji]

New research shows emotional expressions work differently in autism

Autistic and non-autistic faces speak different emotional languages—and misunderstanding goes both ways.

Date:    January 19, 2026
Source:    University of Birmingham
Summary:
    Researchers found that autistic and non-autistic people move their faces differently when expressing emotions like anger, happiness, and sadness. Autistic participants tended to rely on different facial features and produced more varied expressions, which can look unfamiliar to non-autistic observers. The study suggests emotional misunderstandings are a two-way street, not a one-sided deficit.

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Source:  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260118233549.htm

[mystery-ak]

 

[Kamaji]

A new study suggests that autistic and non-autistic people use their faces to show emotions in different ways. These differences may help explain why emotional expressions are sometimes misunderstood between the two groups.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham carried out a large-scale project to map facial expressions linked to basic emotions such as anger, happiness and sadness. Using advanced facial motion tracking, the team recorded more than 265 million data points, creating one of the most detailed libraries of emotional facial movements to date.