Making simulated faces come alive

Our behaviour emerges as the result of many systems interacting at different scales, from low level biology to high level social interaction. Is it possible to create naturalistic explanatory models which can integrate these factors? We describe the general approach and design of a framework to create autonomous expressive embodied models of behaviour based on affective and cognitive neuroscience theories, sharing similar goals with current research in developmental robotics and embodied cognition, but with emphasis on computer graphics and face to face interaction. We aim to create a “large functioning sketch” of several fundamental aspects of behaviour affecting the face to explore emergence from interaction of low level and high level systems in a top-down bottom up approach.