I read New Scientist and sometimes psychology research is mentioned there and given credence. How on earth is: "lips smacking, mouth open, drool at the corners

I read New Scientist and sometimes psychology research is mentioned there and given credence. How on earth is: "lips smacking, mouth open, drool at the corners of their mouths" science? By that I mean, it is not the sort of thing I would expect to see in a paper unless there were photographs of the effect as evidence.