Autism and Facial Expressions: What We Often Miss
Facial expressions are the universal language of emotion. But for many autistic individuals, their emotional signals can be so subtle they go unnoticed.
A recent study from Rutgers University shows that tiny facial micromovements—invisible to the naked eye—carry rich emotional meaning.
This discovery reshapes how we understand autism and nonverbal communication, revealing that the emotional intent is there, but often hidden beneath the surface.
What Are Micromovement Spikes?
Researchers, led by Dr. Elizabeth Torres at Rutgers–New Brunswick’s Sensory Motor Integration Lab, identified micromovement spikes—rapid, faint muscle activations in the face.
Unlike traditional microexpressions, which last fractions of a second, micromovement spikes are subtler and harder to detect without technology.
The study found:
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Autistic and neurotypical individuals both use the same facial muscles.
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In autistic participants, expressions were often lower in intensity and fell outside the “culturally familiar range” people recognize.
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Factors like age and sex influenced micromovement patterns, adding another layer of complexity.
How the Research Was Conducted
The team used a surprisingly simple method:
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Recorded 5- to 6-second video clips on smartphones or tablets.
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Applied advanced statistical and nonlinear dynamics tools.
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Detected subtle micromovement spikes during expressions such as smiling or surprise.
This approach makes the findings highly practical for real-world use, from therapy to everyday interactions.
Why This Matters: Autism Communication and Connection
Misinterpreting—or missing—emotional cues in autism can lead to social disconnection and stigma.
This research suggests that by learning to detect micromovement spikes, caregivers, therapists, and educators can:
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Better recognize emotions in autistic individuals.
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Respond with empathy and accuracy.
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Foster stronger social inclusion and understanding.
Future tools, such as apps that analyze micromovements in real time, may become emotional translators, helping bridge communication gaps.
Humintell’s Perspective
At Humintell, our mission is to help people recognize microexpressions and nonverbal cues to improve emotional intelligence and empathy.
This research aligns perfectly with that mission, reminding us that:
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Emotional expression exists in everyone.
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Sometimes, it just takes new methods—and greater awareness—to see it.
Key Takeaways on Autism and Micromovements
| Insight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Autistic facial expressions are present but faint | They may be misread or overlooked. |
| Micromovement spikes reveal subtle emotions | Technology makes them detectable. |
| Tools like smartphones can capture cues | Making this approach widely accessible. |
| Better recognition builds empathy | Leading to stronger inclusion and communication. |
Dr. Matsumoto’s Comments
The findings from this study raise a couple of interesting questions about the nature of emotion, expression, and their signal value in individuals with ASD.
First, on one hand, the fact that microfacial movements are occurring in these individuals suggests that the link between the emotion elicitation system and the emotional signaling system (face, voice, etc.) in the brain is intact in these individuals.
Evidence for this linkage support the idea that emotions are akin to a central command center in the brain that is linked to muscle systems associated with expression and actions, which is consistent with what other research literature has suggested about the neurocircuitry associated with emotion.
On the other hand, the possibility that the microfacial movements that are occurring may be under the threshold for perception by others raises questions concerning their signal value.
Correctly reading others’ emotional expressions is crucial for effective and constructive social interactions, and if others cannot see expressions, this can lead to difficulties in social interactions.
This is in fact some of the difficulties that individuals with ASD may experience.
As the article mentions, increasing the ability of ASD families and caretakes to read those microfacial movements, even with technology, may be something of value to address this difficult area.
That possibility depends, however, on exactly what messages are conveyed by the micromovements.
The post Autism and Facial Micromovements Explained first appeared on Humintell | Master the Art of Reading Body Language.
These findings breathe new life into the longstanding facial feedback hypothesis—the idea that our facial expressions can shape how we feel.
If you’re curious about applying this to everyday life:
Lead researcher Canori and her colleagues created a variety of 12-second videos of a terrier, a cocker spaniel, or a border collie looking at the camera. In some clips, the dogs were blinking, and in others, they weren’t.