Suggested changes: Hypomimia is a motor symptom of Parkinson's Disease (PD) characterized by a decrease in genuine, spontaneous facial expression. Hypomimia influences the quality of interpersonal communication, pushing others away due to misunderstood facial expressions. As hypomimia progresses, genuine smiles become something PD patients must learn to deliberately create. This is where a Duchenne smile, a smile that reaches the crow’s feet of the eyes, becomes a tool to purposefully convey emotion. This study investigates whether people perceive Duchenne smiles from PD patients as more genuine than deliberate non-Duchenne smiles in people with PD. Participants were shown video clips of people expressing happiness – half Duchenne smiles, half non-Duchenne smiles. Each smile was rated on how happy and genuine it appeared, offering valuable insights into the effectiveness of each deliberate expression. The goal is to build a unique database of intentional emotional expressions that PD patients, clinicians, and care partners can utilize.
