MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE

Our faces convey a wealth of information to an observer, which is base d on both static and dynamic cues. It is the static cues, such as the shape and configuration of facial features, which give rise to the mor e obvious cues signalled by a face: identity, gender, and attractivene ss. However, dynamic movements of the facial muscles signal important social information such as the emotional state and the direction of at tention of an individual. Recent advances in the functional imaging of the human brain function, combined with studies of brain-damaged pati ents, have allowed us to localize those regions of the brain which med iate the recognition and interpretation of facially-conveyed informati on, and allow a greater understanding of these regions' purpose and fu nction.