New research from the University of Birmingham, published in January 2026, reveals that autistic and non-autistic individuals express emotions through facial movements in distinct ways, suggesting that common misunderstandings in emotional communication are often a two-way street rather than a one-sided deficit.
This groundbreaking study challenges long-held assumptions about emotional expression in autism, moving beyond the idea of a “deficit” to explore differences in an “emotional language.” Understanding these distinct patterns in autism emotional expressions is crucial for fostering more effective and empathetic interactions across the neurodiversity spectrum.
The findings, first reported on ScienceDaily.com, highlight how these varying facial cues can lead to frequent misinterpretations by both autistic and non-autistic individuals. The research provides a detailed look at the mechanics of facial emotion, offering new perspectives on social communication.
Distinct patterns in autism emotional expressions
Researchers at the University of Birmingham conducted a large-scale project, employing advanced facial motion tracking to map expressions for basic emotions like anger, happiness, and sadness. The team recorded over 265 million data points, creating an extensive library of emotional facial movements.
The study, published in Autism Research, involved 25 autistic adults and 26 non-autistic adults, who together produced nearly 5,000 facial expressions. Participants were asked to display emotions while matching facial movements to sounds and while speaking, revealing clear differences between the two groups.
Specific patterns emerged, showing how autism emotional expressions diverge. For anger, autistic participants relied more on mouth movements and less on eyebrows compared to their non-autistic counterparts. In expressing happiness, autistic individuals often displayed a more subtle smile that did not “reach the eyes.”
When showing sadness, autistic participants created a downturned expression by lifting the upper lip more prominently than non-autistic peers. These unique expressions, often more varied, can appear unfamiliar to non-autistic observers, contributing to communication challenges.
The study also explored the role of alexithymia, a condition common in autism involving difficulty identifying and describing one’s own emotions. Individuals with higher levels of alexithymia showed less clearly defined facial expressions for anger and happiness, making these emotions seem more ambiguous to others.
Reframing emotional understanding in autism
Dr. Connor Keating, who led the research at the University of Birmingham and is now with the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford, explained that the differences extend beyond mere appearance. “Our findings suggest autistic and non-autistic people differ not only in the appearance of facial expressions, but also in how smoothly these expressions are formed,” Keating stated.
He added that these “mismatches in facial expressions may help to explain why autistic people struggle to recognize non-autistic expressions and vice versa,” emphasizing the reciprocal nature of the communication gap. This perspective shifts the focus from a one-sided problem to a mutual challenge in interpretation.
Professor Jennifer Cook, the study’s senior author at the University of Birmingham, underscored that these differences should not be seen as a deficit. “Autistic and non-autistic people may express emotions in ways that are different but equally meaningful—almost like speaking different languages,” Cook remarked.
She concluded that what has often been interpreted as difficulties for autistic individuals might instead reflect a two-way challenge in understanding each other’s expressions. This reframing is vital for promoting neurodiversity and developing better strategies for emotional connection.
This research, supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC, United Kingdom) and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme, marks a significant step towards a more nuanced understanding of emotional communication. Future studies will likely build on these findings, exploring the implications for social interactions and therapeutic approaches.
