When does life “spark” in a face?

Interactive

How “human” does a face have to be before it looks alive to you? Try this demo to test your intuitions.

Click "MORPH" to start the animation. As soon as the face looks like it has a mind (that it can think, feel pain, make plans), click "IT'S ALIVE!" to see just how human it needed to be.

100% Doll
0% Human

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Extra materials if you want to learn more

References

Looser, C. E., & Wheatley, T. (2010). The tipping point of animacy: How, when, and where we perceive life in a face. Psychological Science, 21(12), 1854-1862.

Credits

“When Does Life Spark in a Face” was created by Evan Younger, Olivia Kang, and Mahzarin Banaji.