FACS Visual Reference

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Upper Action Units

Muscular Anatomy
Muscular Action

Action Unit 4 - Brow Lowerer
AU 4A
The appearance changes for AU 4 are sufficiently present to indicate AU 4, but are insufficient to score 4B (e.g., a trace of brow lowering and/or a trace of pulling together).
AU 4B
Inner and/or central portion of brow lowered slightly, pushing down or reducing visibility of medial portion of eye cover fold.
OR
Brows pulled together slightly; if you do not see the movement, you must see a wrinkle or muscle bulge between brows. If a wrinkle or muscle bulge is permanent (in the neutral face), it must increase slightly. (Note that in 4i, 4ii and w4 both the brow lowering and pulling together criteria are present.)
AU 4C
Both the brow lowering and pulling together of the criteria for 4B are present and at least one is marked, e.g., one step greater than slight, but the evidence is less than the criteria for 4D.
AU 4D
Both the brow lowering and pulling together of the criteria for 4B are present and at least one is severe, but the evidence is less than the criteria for 4E.
AU 4E
Brow pulling together or lowering is maximum.

Action Unit 1 - Inner Brow Raiser
AU 1A
The appearance changes for AU 1 are sufficiently present to indicate AU 1, but are insufficient to score 1B (e.g., a trace of brow raising at the inner corners).
AU 1B
1) Inner corners of brows raised slightly manifest by hair moving or evidence of muscle bulge developing, showing that the inner corner area has been pulled up. In some people the eyebrows will not move but the skin above them will move upwards.
If you did not see the brow move, it must additionally have evidence that either criterion 1 is marked;
OR
2) Slight wrinkles in center of forehead; if such wrinkles are permanent, they must increase slightly.
In a child you might never see criterion 2. In such instances, if you did not see the brow move, then you must rely upon criterion 1, but it must be marked not slight.
AU 1C
Both the inner brow raising and wrinkling in the center of the forehead of the criteria for 1B are present together and at least one is marked, e.g., one step greater than slight, but the evidence is less than the criteria for 1D.
AU 1D
Both the inner brow raising and wrinkling in the center of the forehead of the criteria for 1B are present and both are at least severe, but the evidence is less than the criteria for 1E.
AU 1E
All the signs of AU 1 are present and the inner brow raising and wrinkling in the center of the forehead are in the maximum range.

Action Unit 2 - Outer Brow Raiser
AU 2A
The appearance changes for AU 2 are sufficiently present to indicate AU 2, but are insufficient to score 2B (e.g., a trace of brow raising at the outer corners).
AU 2B
1) Lateral portion of brow pulled upward slightly, changing the shape of brow and 2) Lateral portion of eye cover fold stretched slightly.
If you did not see the brow move then you must find evidence for the additional criterion below, and at least one criterion (1, 2, or 3) must be marked with the other two slight.
3) Horizontal or curved wrinkles above lateral portion of brow. If these wrinkles are in the neutral face, they must increase either slightly or markedly.
In a child, you might never see criterion 3. In such instances, if you did not see the brow move then you must rely just upon criteria 1 and 2, but one of them must be marked and the other slight.
AU 2C
The lateral brow raising, lateral eye cover fold stretching, and wrinkling in the lateral part of the forehead of the criteria for 2B are present together and at least two are marked, e.g., one step greater than slight, but the evidence is less than the criteria for 2D.
AU 2D
The lateral brow raising, lateral eye cover fold stretching, and wrinkling in the lateral part of the forehead of the criteria for 2B are present together and at least two are severe, but the evidence is less than the criteria for 2E.
AU 2E
All the signs of AU 2 are present and the lateral raising of the brow, eye cover fold stretching, and wrinkling in the lateral portion of the brow are in the maximum range.

Action Unit 5 - Upper Lid Raiser
AU 5A
The appearance changes for AU 5 are sufficiently present to indicate AU 5, but are insufficient to score 5B (e.g., a trace of upper lid raising that exposes more of the iris or sclera).
AU 5B
1) If the upper lid covers part of the iris in the neutral face, upper lid raise must be sufficient to expose virtually (very nearly) the entire iris, but no more than a hairline of sclera must be exposed above the iris. If more than a hairline of sclera shows, score 5C, 5D, or 5E.
OR
2) If the entire iris shows in the neutral face, upper lid raise must be sufficient to expose sclera above iris, more than just a hairline of sclera is required to be exposed, but not much more. If much more than a hairline of sclera, score 5C, 5D, or 5E).
AU 5C
The sclera exposed is more than allowed by the 5B criteria, i.e., if the upper lid covers part of the iris in the neutral face, slightly more than a hairline of sclera is exposed; or if entire iris shows in the neutral face, markedly more sclera must be revealed, but the evidence is less than the criteria for 5D. When the eyes are deeply set or in some Asian faces, you may never see sclera in 5CDE, and you must make the decision based upon how much wider the eye aperture has become.
AU 5D
The amount of sclera exposed must be severely more than exposed in the neutral face, but the evidence is less than the criteria for 5E.
AU 5E
The upper eyelid is raised as much as the person can do, and close to the maximum sclera that the person can show is exposed above the iris, and there must be a bulging or staring appearance without doubt.

Action Unit 7 - Lid Tightener
AU 7A
The appearance changes for AU 7 are sufficiently present to indicate AU 7, but are insufficient to score 7B (e.g., a trace of narrowing not due to other AUs).
AU 7B
1) There is a slight narrowing of the eye aperture (due primarily to lower lid raise) that is not produced by:
  • AU 4, which in lowering the brow may also narrow the eye aperture. If AU 4 is present you must be certain the lower lid has also been raised in order to score AU 7.
  • AU 6, which narrows the eye aperture, and obscures the presence of AU 7. If the signs of AU 6 are present, it is difficult to see the signs of AU 7, especially without motion that allows you to see the addition or subtraction of the 7 action.
  • AU 12 or 13, which can be strong enough to have narrowed the eye aperture. More specifically, when the actions of 12 or 13 are strong, 6 is likely to be scored as well. With a weak to moderate 12 where AU 6 is not evident, AU 7 is easier to score separately from AU 6.
  • AU 9, which can be strong enough to narrow the eye aperture. AU 9 can obscure the presence of 7, and unless the actions of 7 and 9 are sequential in a motion record, it is difficult to see the signs of 7, especially if AU 9 is strong.
  • AU 43, which in addition to drooping the upper lid may also entail a small lower lid raise; if AU 43 can be scored, then to score 7 criterion 2 or 3 below must be met (i.e., mere narrowing is insufficient for scoring AU 7 when AU 43 is narrowing the eye). For scoring 7 in the combination of 7+43E, see the section on Action Unit Combination 7+43E.
OR
2) The lower lid is raised and the skin below the eye is drawn up and/or medially towards the inner corner of the eye slightly.
OR
3) Slight bulge or pouch of the lower eyelid skin as it is pushed up. Note that images 7 and w7 meet both criteria 1 and 3.
If you did not see the lower lid move up, then criterion 1 must be marked not slight and criterion 3 must be met.
AU 7C
At least two of the criteria for AU 7B, narrowing of the eye aperture, raising of the lower lid, or bulging/pouching of the lower eyelid are present and at least one is marked, but the evidence is less than the criteria for 7D.
AU 7D
Narrowing of the eye aperture, raising of the lower lid, and bulging/pouching of the lower eyelid are all present and at least one of these is severe, but the evidence is less than the criteria for 7E.
AU 7E
1) The narrowing of the eye aperture and raising and stretching of the lower lid are present and in the maximum range, hiding most of the iris and pulling skin below the lower eyelid towards the root of the nose.
AND
2) Tension in the eyelids and the bagging, bulging, or tensing of the lower eyelid is present and severe.

Lower Action Units