Whether we realize it or not, we are constantly using our bodies to tell others what we are thinking.

Denise Vrchota, continuous adjunct assistant professor of English, considers herself to be in tune with the body language of those around her.

Vrchota, who teaches a class in nonverbal communication studies, looks for four things when she first meets someone: eye contact, facial expressions, gestures and posture.

Vrchota said prolonged eye contact, nodding and follow-up questions indicate someone is genuinely interested in what you have to say. Sometimes she is able to tell if two people are in a relationship based on their nonverbal communication.

“If you are in a relationship you may talk a little more softly and take on a different tone of voice,” Vrchota said.”In fact, I thought that two people I knew were in a relationship because of how they changed their voices when they were together. I later discovered that they were in fact in a relationship.”

The BBC’s Web site features a section devoted to relationship and dating advice written by Tracey Cox, TV presenter and author of many dating books.

Cox said first impressions are very important and are based on a number of different aspects. In fact, she said, 55 percent of a first impression comes from body language and 38 percent is based on the sound of one’s voice – just 7 percent depends on what is actually said.

“Experts agree it takes us between 90 seconds and four minutes to decide if we fancy someone,” Cox said. In that time, there are many signals that can indicate interest.

Cox also refers to a “flirting triangle” that has to do with eye contact.

When we are talking to people we don’t know on a personal level, our eyes scan back and forth, from eye to eye. With friends, this motion is more of a triangle that starts with the eyes and extends down to the nose and mouth. However, when talking to someone that we are interested in, this triangle drops down further to include their mouth and body.

Another sign someone is into you is the person mirroring your actions. This doesn’t mean that they will mimic your every move, but subtle moves such as leaning in or holding eye contact are signs they may want to be more than just friends.

A quick “eyebrow flash” is a subconscious signal indicating attraction between two people.

“When we first see someone we’re attracted to, our eyebrows rise and fall,” Cox said. “If they are similarly attracted, they raise their eyebrows in return.”

If you have never witnessed this “eyebrow flash,” don’t worry. It lasts a mere one-fifth of a second and is often undetectable. Though we do this without being aware of it, this signal is found in every culture around the world and is known as a greeting. Next time you see that special someone, look at the way his or her body is positioned, particularly where their hands and feet are pointing.

“If we find someone attractive, we’ll often point at them subconsciously with our hands, arms, feet, legs and toes,” Cox writes. This is a signal that is often picked up by a person’s subconscious.

When a person likes what they see, their pupils dilate and his or her blinking rate speeds up. To tell if someone is interested in you, try blinking faster when you talk to him or her. If the other person is into you, he or she will blink faster, subconsciously trying to match your blink rate.

Though these gestures may be indicators that someone likes you, little can be concluded by examining just one signal.

“We should be very careful about drawing conclusions from individual nonverbal actions,” Vrchota said. “What people need to do is look at clusters of behaviors.”

For example, if someone is frowning, speaking in a harsh voice and slouching, it may be a good indicator that they are upset. The fact they are frowning alone is often not enough to conclude they are in a bad mood.

“I think body language usually said a lot about what a person is thinking,” said Mekell Helle, freshman in art and design. “Sometimes it can be misinterpreted, though, so you really have to tune in to get the correct message.”