Editing Facial expression (section)

{{Short description|Expression of the face}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2018}}
'''Facial expression''' is the motion and positioning of the [[Skeletal muscle|muscles]] beneath the [[skin]] of the face. These movements convey the [[emotion]]al state of an individual to observers and are a form of [[nonverbal communication]]. They are a primary means of conveying social information between [[human]]s, but they also occur in most other [[mammals]] and some other animal [[species]].

Humans can adopt a facial expression voluntarily or involuntarily, and the neural mechanisms responsible for controlling the expression differ in each case. Voluntary facial expressions are often socially conditioned and follow a cortical route in the brain. Conversely, involuntary facial expressions are believed to be innate and follow a subcortical route in the brain. Facial recognition can be an emotional experience for the brain and the [[amygdala]] is highly involved in the recognition process.

Beyond the accessory nature of facial expressions in spoken communication between people, they play a significant role in communication with [[sign language]]. Many phrases in sign language include facial expressions.

There is controversy surrounding the question of whether facial expressions are a worldwide and universal display among humans.