---
type: source
id: burleigh-2013-does-uv-exist
title: Does the uncanny valley exist? An empirical test of the relationship between eeriness and the human likeness of digitally created faces
authors:
- Tyler J. Burleigh
- Jordan R. Schoenherr
- Guy L. Lacroix
year: 2013
venue: Computers in Human Behavior
volume: 29(3)
pages: 759-771
doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2012.11.021
peer_review: peer-reviewed-journal
evidence_tier: B
design: Two studies varying human likeness of computer-generated faces; eeriness ratings
modality:
- cg-face
stimuli: Digitally created faces
n_participants: null
n_note: modest (not recorded)
topics:
- uncanny-valley
- valley-shape
summary: Eeriness was mostly a linear function of human likeness; non-linear effects appeared only when stimuli combined conflicting or atypical features.
results:
- metric: Eeriness vs human likeness
  value: mostly linear
  note: no valley along a single axis
  source_location: null
- metric: Conflicting/atypical features
  value: non-linear effects
  note: ''
  source_location: null
moderators: []
limitations:
- CG stimuli only
mechanism_supported:
- atypicality
- perceptual-mismatch
verification:
  status: verified-doi
  confidence: medium
  checked: 2026-10-07
  via: Semantic Scholar metadata (title, authors, venue, DOI); abstract not available
url: null
pmid: null
pmcid: null
arxiv_id: null
openalex_id: null
oa_url: null
cited_in:
- MR-0002
updated: '2026-10-07'
---

# Does the uncanny valley exist? An empirical test of the relationship between eeriness and the human likeness of digitally created faces

> **Source record** `burleigh-2013-does-uv-exist` · 2013 · Computers in Human Behavior  
> **Evidence tier:** B (peer-reviewed-journal) · **Verification:** verified-doi (compiler confidence: medium)  
> **Bottom line:** Eeriness was mostly a linear function of human likeness; non-linear effects appeared only when stimuli combined conflicting or atypical features.

## Citation {#citation}

Tyler J. Burleigh, Jordan R. Schoenherr, Guy L. Lacroix (2013). Does the uncanny valley exist? An empirical test of the relationship between eeriness and the human likeness of digitally created faces. *Computers in Human Behavior*, 29(3), 759-771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2012.11.021

Verification entry (identifiers, resolvers, claims with source locations): [/data/citations.json#burleigh-2013-does-uv-exist](/data/citations.json#burleigh-2013-does-uv-exist)

## Study design {#design}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Design | Two studies varying human likeness of computer-generated faces; eeriness ratings |
| Modality | cg-face |
| Stimuli | Digitally created faces |
| Participants (N) | not recorded |
| N detail | modest (not recorded) |
| Topics | uncanny-valley, valley-shape |

## Results {#results}

| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Eeriness vs human likeness | mostly linear | no valley along a single axis |
| Conflicting/atypical features | non-linear effects |  |

## Mechanism relevance {#mechanism}

`atypicality`, `perceptual-mismatch`

## Limitations {#limitations}

- CG stimuli only

## Cited in {#cited-in}

- [MR-0002](/metareports/uncanny-valley-and-synthetic-faces.md): The Uncanny Valley and Synthetic Media: Does It Exist, What Causes It, and Have Deepfakes Crossed It?

## Verification {#verification}

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | `verified-doi` |
| Compiler confidence | medium |
| Checked on | 2026-10-07 |
| Via | Semantic Scholar metadata (title, authors, venue, DOI); abstract not available |

Values on this page have not all been checked against the full text. Confirm them against the primary source before high-stakes use.