Chapter 9: Head and Eye Positions

This chapter provides a descriptive system to score permanent and temporary changes in head and eye position. This sys-
tem is presented from an ideal perspective where the person whose face you are measuring sits facing the camera, which
is at a height roughly level with the person's head. All of the images shown in this manual were photographed from this
ideal perspective. If you are scoring a photograph, video, or videotape that shows the face from a different angle, the exact
appearance changes shown in these FACS images will not be applicable, and you may or may not decide to score the face
for head and eye position. It will still be important, however, that you check the following scores and images:
If the face you are scoring shows Head Up as much as is depicted in image 53C, and the eyes are directed
Head Up:
down as much as shown in the 64 images, it is difficult to score AU 43 at low intensities. Do not score 43
unless you are certain that the eyelid position is not due to head/eye movements.
If the head is down as much as shown in image 54C, and the upper eyelid is lowered to a slit, it is diffi-
Head Down:
cult to score AU 43C or 43D, since a slit looks like eyes closed, AU 43E.
If the head is down as much as shown in 54C and the eyes are not down but level or up (63), it is difficult
to score 43 at low intensities. Do not score 43 unless you are certain that the eyelid position is not due to
head/eye movements.
If the eyes are turned to the left (61), or right (62) it is difficult to score the upper eyelid as drooping
Eyes Turned:
(43A/B). Do not score 43+61 or 43+62 unless you are certain that the eyelid position is not due to head/
eye movements.
If the eyes are directed upward (63), in relationship to the head position, it is difficult to score 5 because
Eyes Up:
looking up causes the upper eyelid to raise. If you are uncertain that the upper eyelid is raised more than
required to turn the gaze upwards, do not score 5+63.

If your view of the face shows that there is a neutral position at some time where the head is not turned as much as 52B,
and it is not down as much as 54B or up as much as 53B, you can use the images to apply the scoring system described
below.

The scoring system for head and eye position is less precise than for the Action Units. We advise scoring traces of these
positions as neutral or in a no score category, rather than as an A intensity like the AUs. Small shifts from neutral are dis-
regarded because of the difficulty in recording the many small movements of a subject’s head and eyes. Examples are pro-
vided of what are considered unscorable, negligible amounts of change (A level), for almost all of the head and eye
position scoring.

Left or right in your scoring refers to the subject's left or right side. Be careful not to score your left or right when viewing
the subject. Unless you are viewing a reversed image, what appears on the left side of the face from your view will be the
subjects right, and it is the subject’s face, not your view, that you score. You may find it useful to put labels on the side of
the monitor indicating right and left as an aide to remembering to use the subject’s right and left, not yours.

There are four descriptors for the position (or movement) of the head. The head can turn left or right (51, 52). The head
can lift up or nod down (53, 54). The head can tilt to one side or the other (55, 56). Finally, the head can move forward or
back (57, 58). You score each of these four aspects of head position separately, and the head position can involve scores in
all four aspects.

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Head and Eye Positions

Figure 9-1: Guidelines for Scoring Head Turn Left (51) or Right (52)

51-52 neutral 52 unscorable

52 unscorable 52B

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 51 – Head Turn Left 52 – Head Turn Right

51 – Head Turn Left

52 – Head Turn Right
Head Turn is a score for the orientation of the head left to right on a vertical axis. Head Turn is scored independently of
Head Tilt, Up/Down, or Head Forward or Back. Be careful not to be misled by the eye position. If the eyes are turned (61,
62), the false impression that the head has turned when it has not may be created. Eyes directed straight at the camera may
tend to diminish the impression that the head has turned when it actually has done so. Always verify your scoring of Head
Turn by covering the eyes to see if without this cue, you should change your scoring.

Note that the images in Figure 9-1 provide two examples of unscorable levels of Head Turn.

It is difficult to put into words the cut-off point for when Head Turn becomes scorable (the B level). Look at 52B, and note
that the amount of cheek exposure on the two sides of the face has become quite apparently different. Notice that you can
no longer see the skin over the temple area on the right side, but that the left temple is well exposed. If 12 o'clock is where
the nose is pointing in the neutral position, a scorable 51/52 is when the nose points to 11 o'clock or 1 o’clock. The unscor-
able 52 images are a minute or two after 12, but they have not reached the 1 o'clock level.

If the amount of turn is no greater than that shown in 52B, you will be able to see enough of both sides of the face to score
all of the AUs. The face could be turned further away, however. Score 52C if the turn to the side is sufficient for you to be
unable to see part of the iris in the eye which is turned from you. It will be covered by the nose. Score 52E if you have a
profile view or more. Anything less than a profile view but equal to or more than 52C is scored as 52C or D. No images
are provided for 52C, D, or E.

Note that you score Head Turn left or right before the turning obscures your view of both sides of the face enough to make
it impossible to score all AUs. Level B and most C turns will allow you to see enough of the face to score all AUs. When
the head is turned enough so that you cannot score AUs on one side of the face (52E and strong 52D) you will score one
side of the face as not visible (L73 or R73). Score any actions on the other side as unilateral actions even though you
might think it possible to assume the action would have occurred on the not visible side. For example, if the face was
turned to the left so you could not see the right side at all, but there was a clear 1+2 on the left aide you would score the
face as L1+L2+51E+R73.

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Head and Eye Positions

Figure 9-2: Guidelines for Scoring Head Up (53)

53 unscorable 53B

53C

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 53 – Head Up

53 – Head Up
When scoring Head Up, disregard other aspects of head position and the eye positions. It may be difficult to score Head
Up without being misled by the eye position. If the eyes are up, the false impression that the head is up when it is not may
be created. If the eyes are straight at the camera, you may miss noting that the head is up when it actually is. It is best to
cover the eyes in determining if the head meets the guideline for scoring Head Up.

Note that Figure 9-2 shows a image of an unscorable amount of Head Up. The cut-off point for when you can score Head
Up is shown in image 53B. Obviously, you can score Head Up when there is more extreme positioning of the head than
what is shown in 53B or 53C. When the head is pointed up to what is maximum, score it as 53E. Anything between 53C
and 53E would be scored 53C or 53D.

When the head is scored as Up (53), be careful about scoring AU 7, as it may be difficult to observe lower lid raise or nar-
rowing of the eye aperture. Often in 53, the bottom of the iris will be cut off by the lower lid and shadows may cause the
lower lid to appear bagged. Look closely for evidence of tightening of the lids. Obviously, if you can see the lids tighten-
ing and the skin below the lids being pulled up and towards the root of the nose, you can score AU 7.

Figure 9-3: Guidelines for Scoring Head Down (54) - eyes straight

54B eyes straight

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