Needless to say, I’m exasperated.  In the manuscript a sentence read: “Her wide gray eyes gazed into his, growing even larger, as though he’d taken her totally by surprise.”  The comment was, “All by themselves?  Body parts can’t act independently.”

Yeah?  It may not be the greatest sentence in the western literature, but I beg to differ about the body parts acting independently (even though I know I will lose the battle).

While I realize publishing houses have their standards and the editor will prevail, and I understand the concerns editors have for eyes that fly across rooms and arms that lift, I’ve also done a fair amount of research into body language.  Under certain circumstances, some body parts do, in fact, take actions independent of conscious thought.  And that’s a scientifically proven fact.

So, What's The Problem?
Are readers so unfamiliar with body language that they will be confused or will misinterpret the words we write?  Personally, I don’t think so, and my research backs that up.

The study of body movements is called Kineses, and there is abundant research available on the topic that shows the following:

● Most humans communicate through body language as well as through speech.

● Most humans are very adept at interpreting body language.

● Body language is so important that descriptions of it have become integral parts of our written and spoken language.  For example, you say that someone blinked to mean that person was confused, and so on.

● A substantial portion of human body language gestures are reflexive and unconscious, but it is possible to learn to control most of them except the pupils and secretions of the eye.  Not necessarily easy, but possible.  For example, eyes may widen when a person is surprised without any conscious thought or intent on the part of the individual.  However, a person can widen their eyes on purpose, and the widening of the eye is a reflex that one can learn to be control.

● Individual body language gestures can mean more than one thing and should be interpreted only in relation to other gestures, activities, and other kinds of information (particularly since it is possible for a person to control the body language gestures).

Kevin Hogan, Psy.D., Body Language Expert, says nonverbal communication is between 60% to 75% of the impact of a message.

“What people say could often be very different from what they're thinking or feeling. It's very easy to say something untrue or insincere, so we can never rely on words alone.  Let's face it.  Even if you trust someone with your life, you'll never have peace of mind unless you know exactly what they're feeling or thinking inside.

The most effective way to uncover hidden desires, thoughts, or emotions is by reading and interpreting body language correctly.  And guess what?  Your own body language signals can also influence what other people may think or feel about you.”

Body Language Indicators
Body language is defined by some as a reaction to an emotion.  Because writers use those non-verbal indicators of mood and emotion in their writing, it’s good to be familiar with reading and understanding body language.  At the end, I’ve listed several links for interpreting body language that you may find useful.  Below are categories of body movements that authors can use to describe mood and emotion.
● Posture
● Head motion
● Facial expression
● Eye Contact (or lack of contact)
● Other movements and aspects of the eyes
● Gestures
● Paralanguage
● Voice and tone, speed of speaking
● Space
● Silence
● Listening

Retained Neonatal Reflexes
To some extent, humans retain a few of the involuntary reflexes (controlled by the lower centers of our brain) from the womb when the central nervous system is not fully developed.  In the early years of life, as the higher centers of the brain begin to mature, these reflexes are gradually integrated, but certain residual primary reflexes stick with us.
● Fear
● Pain
● Surprise
● Anything that triggers the fight or flight reaction.

According to Body Language Insights, “Body language is a largely automatic response to fearful situations.  The behaviors of our body language are mostly innate to us, though some might be "inherited."  Either way, we have little knowledge of or control over when our bodies react to fear and how.  Depending on the severity of the situation, our fear can excite us, encourage us, shock us, or completely paralyze us.  And it will be written all over our faces!”

Most of us are familiar with the "fight or flight" adrenalin rush of the sympathetic nervous system.  This reflex readies the body for survival during stressful situations.  According to Bookrags.com, “interactions between the neural and hormonal systems of the body work together to get the body ready to stand and fight the challenge or run away from it (flight).  When faced with life-threatening crises, unnecessary functions are temporarily shut down and energies are diverted to functions vital to survival.  Any stress, whether physical, psychological (anticipation of an unpleasant event) or emotional (anger or fear) will produce some, if not all elements of the fight or flight response.”

Therefore, in situations where our fictional characters are startled or surprised, hurt, or stressed (including anticipation of something unpleasant), the body may react without conscious thought, both viscerally and physically.  Sure, the reacting body parts are attached to a person’s central nervous system which is sending signals to cells as electrochemical waves traveling along thin fibers called axons, but that’s happening at a subconscious level.  For all intents and purposes, the body parts are acting independently of the cerebrum.

So, if your heroine is startled by a loud noise and gasps or her hand rises rapidly and reflexively (God forbid that it “fly”) to the base of her throat, it isn’t because she stops to think, “Wow!  That startled me.  I am going to raise my hand to cover my racing heart.”  It happens as an involuntary action.  The hand does raise itself of its own volition.  (1,000 W)

A Word Of Advice
Go ahead and argue, if you want, but your editor will probably prevail.

Body Language References
http://www.businessballs.com/body-language.htm   (This is one of the best)
http://communicationtheory.org/body-language/
http://femalebodylanguage.net/
http://www.kevinhogan.com/bodylanguage.htm
http://bodylanguageinsights.com/fear.html
http://www.squidoo.com/readingbodylanguage
http://bodylanguageinsights.com/sadness.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_language               
http://sapientology.com/body-language/eyes/