Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

07/01/2014

Adam Walton is at Aberystwyth University to hear about a project that looks at the computer modification of the human face.

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 12 Jan 2014 06:30

What's in a Face?

What's in a Face?

Our presenter Adam Walton was prematurely aged for this week's programme, in the interest in studying the science behind faces.听听We're all fascinated by faces - but how accurately can we read them?

Adam begins his journey at Aberystwyth University where he talks to Dr Bernie Tiddeman, the head of the Computer Science department, who has helped to develop technology to help us study faces more closely and scientifically. He helped to build the 3D Face Capture System which is used to analyse faces - digital images which are very useful to the cosmetics industry and in psychological and medical听studies.

The听Capture System is used at St Andrew's University听in the School of Psychology and Neuroscience.听There, third听year PhD student Iris Holzleitner is studying听the the role of three-dimensional face shape in social perception. She听explains to Adam听which facial traits drive judgments听about health, dominance and attractiveness - 听and which evolutionary pressures might be underpinning these perceptions?

And at Cardiff University School of Psychology, Mr Michael Lewis has done some fascinating research into the way botulism injections into the face can affect our mood.听 Our faces are special - not simply in their appearance, but in the messages they feed back to ourselves. 听

听听

Broadcasts

  • Tue 7 Jan 2014 18:30
  • Sun 12 Jan 2014 06:30

Adam Walton

Adam Walton

Adam's "other job" - tune in every Saturday at 10 PM for the best new music from Wales.