Training Manual

Theory Guide

Do not try to "guess the person’s inner truth." Train your eye to notice visible facial signals, compare them, and reduce repeated confusion patterns over time.

What You Are Training

The Goal

MicroSigns trains visual attention. You are practicing the rapid detection and categorization of specific facial muscle tensions (Action Units). Like training a muscle, repetition builds perceptual speed.

What MicroSigns Does Not Do

We do not teach mind-reading or lie detection. A micro-expression may reveal a concealed emotion, but it does not tell you why the emotion was triggered. Context is always required.

The 7 Target Emotions

Anger

Anger

What to look forLowered eyebrows, tense eyelids, tight lips.
Training TipFocus on the brow ridge and the tension in the lips. Anger brings the eyebrows down and together.
Commonly confused withDisgust, Sadness
Disgust

Disgust

What to look forWrinkled nose, raised upper lip.
Training TipDisgust often centers around the nose and upper lip. Watch for tension pulling upward in the center of the face.
Commonly confused withAnger, Contempt
Fear

Fear

What to look forRaised and flat eyebrows, wide eyes, stretched lips.
Training TipUnlike surprise, fear creates horizontal tension. Lips are stretched back, and eyebrows are flat and tense.
Commonly confused withSurprise, Sadness
Surprise

Surprise

What to look forRaised curved eyebrows, relaxed dropped jaw.
Training TipLook for vertical expansion without tension. The jaw drops loosely, and eyebrows curve upwards.
Commonly confused withFear
Sadness

Sadness

What to look forInner eyebrows raised/pulled together, downturned lip corners.
Training TipFocus on the inner corners of the eyebrows (the 'grief muscle'). It is one of the hardest micro-expressions to fake.
Commonly confused withFear, Neutral
Contempt

Contempt

What to look forAsymmetrical tightening of one lip corner.
Training TipContempt is the only universally recognized asymmetrical expression. Look for a unilateral pull on one side of the mouth.
Commonly confused withDisgust, Happiness (Smirk)
Happiness

Happiness

What to look forCrow's feet (wrinkles around eyes), pushed up cheeks, symmetrical smile.
Training TipA genuine smile (Duchenne smile) must activate the muscles around the eyes, not just the mouth.
Commonly confused withContempt, Neutral (if subtle)

Intensity Levels

  • Extreme: Full facial activation. Excellent for learning the baseline shapes.
  • Normal: Standard conversational expressions.
  • Subtle: Micro-expressions requiring high visual acuity. Muscle tension is minimal and fleeting.
Neutral Baseline

Neutral vs Expression

Everyone's resting face is different. Some people have a naturally downturned mouth or heavy brows.

Always look for the change (the muscle contraction) breaking the neutral baseline, not just the static shape of the face.

The Training Loop

1. How to use Feedback

When you make a mistake in the Arena, use the visual feedback to compare the correct answer with your choice. Understanding why you confused two emotions is more important than your accuracy score.

2. Focus Mode (Adaptive Practice)

Available in Founder Access, Focus Mode builds a short training drill around the emotion pair you confuse most based on your recent mistakes.

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The 60/40 Logic

Around 60% of the questions target your weak signal to build recognition, while 40% remain randomized distractors to keep the drill realistic and prevent guessing.

Enter Training Arena