Natalia Albuquerque · 7 June 2023

Have you ever heard of Lipsmacking?

Lipsmacking behaviour is a rhythmic facial expression (rapid closing and opening of the mouth) observed in many non-human primate species. It is an affiliative signal, which means that it sends a positive message and promotes affiliative interactions. Emotional regulation is central to the occurrence of affiliative behaviours since they require one individual to express their sensations and motivations and another individual to perceive the emotions of the first. Animals must regulate their emotional experience. For this emotional regulation to occur, signals, such as the lipsmacking behaviour, are produced for the exchange of emotional information. In capuchin monkeys, lipsmacking is usually directed at infants.