| Summary: | Micro (micros) and subtle expressions (minis) are known as deception cues as they provide observers indications of an individual’s genuine emotion. The reliability of these expressions as deception cues and trainability of detecting these expressions are questioned. The reliability is examined through the neuroanatomical evidence, theoretical foundations, and empirical findings. There is strong neuroanatomical proof of the involuntary characteristics of the expressions. However, the common emotions involved in the theoretical foundations remained largely non-empirical. Nevertheless, empirical findings have forged the association between detecting the expressions with lie detection accuracy. Trainability of micros and minis is examined through the after-training effects, features of the training tools, and skill retention period. The ability to detect micros improved after training, but the training tools for minis have not been empirically tested to validate its utility in improving detection. The feature of the training tools that has come under scrutiny concerns the ecological validity. The static posed expressions used in the training tools have been criticised for being unrealistic, while a dynamic display of expressions is preferred. Period of retention has not been tested satisfactorily, with the longest period tested only at six weeks. Applications of this ability could be in forensics, clinical and business settings. However, awareness of the Brohaw hazard and Othello error is warranted during interpretation. Overall, this review has established the significance of micros and minis as reliable deception cues and showed that their detection is trainable. Future directions for the research are also discussed.
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