New research shows facial expressions are planned by the brain before movement, not automatic emotional reactions.

Photo-Illustration by Chloe Dowling for TIME (Source Images: Klaus Vedfelt—Getty Images, Tim Robberts—Getty Images, Kelvin Murray—Getty Images, Robert Recker—Getty Images, Howard Kingsnorth—Getty ...

Happy, sad, angry, scared: Some of us are good at hiding these everyday emotions, while others are unable to disguise them. Whether subtle or intense, facial expressions are the key to how we identify ...

[Note: This practice involves our visual system, which for many people is impaired. If this is the case for you, you could adapt my suggestions to focus on the voices of others.] As our ancestors ...

Researchers used an algorithm to allow people to refine what they thought the facial expression of a particular emotion should look like. The results show profound individual differences, suggesting ...

Nonverbal communication can be just as important—if not more important—than verbal communication for actors. Whether it’s Claire Danes’ furrowed brow as Carrie Mathison in “Homeland” or Jack Gleeson’s ...

When I started horse riding lessons at the age of eight, I was told that if a horse had its ears forward that was a good sign, and if horse had its ears back it wasn’t happy. Those riding lessons ...