On 30 January at 6:00 PM, a lecture will be given at the Anatomy Museum by Professor Rachael E. Jack from the School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Glasgow. The lecture will be held in English.

Understanding cultural diversity in facial expressions of emotion

Are facial expressions of emotion culturally universal? This question has fueled scholarly debate for over a century, challenging researchers to decode the complex dynamic facial movements that humans display. While methodological limitations have long hindered progress, recent advancements in data-driven technologies now offer unprecedented opportunities to unravel this mystery. With colleagues across disciplines, I have worked to push the boundaries of how we understand the communication of dynamic facial expressions across cultures. In this talk, I will highlight research that has reshaped foundational theories and expanded real-world applications, including social robotics.

The lecture is organized by Professor Jurģis Šķilters (University of Latvia). Advance registration will be required to attend the lecture.

The Robert Blumberg Distinguished Lecture in Cognitive Science was initiated 2018 in collaboration with the Laboratory of Perception and Cognitive Systems at the Faculty of Computing, the University of Latvia (UL), and Robert Blumberg, honorary member of UL, patron, board member of the organisation Friends of the University of Latvia, and the honorary Consul of the Republic of Latvia in the State of Illinois. The Robert Blumberg Distinguished Lecture in Cognitive Science is the only event in the Baltic region that honours the highest level significant cross-disciplinary contributions in cognitive science. Previous lectures and affiliated events have brought together the most important researchers from the fields of perception, psychology, music, mathematics, and neuroscience to mention just a few. Support for this lecture is administered by the University of Latvia Foundation.