Final answer:
The amygdala and the broader limbic system are responsible for creating facial expressions of emotions in humans. They connect to various brain systems that manage our emotional responses, and research has shown that our ability to produce these expressions is universal across human cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The portion of the brain involved in creating the facial expressions of emotions in humans is primarily the amygdala. The amygdala is crucial for processing emotional responses and has connections that regulate the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems' activities. Furthermore, the limbic system, which includes the hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus, is heavily involved in emotion and memory, playing a role in the biological basis of emotions. The ability to recognize and produce facial expressions of emotion is universal among humans, linking distinct facial expressions with seven universal emotions: happiness, surprise, sadness, fright, disgust, contempt, and anger.
Researchers such as Ekman, Zajonc, and LeDoux have contributed significantly to our understanding of emotions and facial expressions. Ekman's work demonstrates the universality of emotional expressions, while Zajonc and LeDoux focus on how certain emotions can be experienced instantaneously or can bypass cognition altogether, further emphasizing the role of the amygdala, especially in fear responses.