A means of measuring facial expressions and a method for predicting emotion categories in clinical disorders of affect

Journal/Book: J Affect Disorders. 1999; 55: PO Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands. Elsevier Science Bv. 179-185.

Abstract: In a radical departure from traditional approaches, it was found that only seven measures of facial expression are required to accurately distinguish between normal displays of happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, surprise and anger. Using these prototypical emotion categories it has been shown that particular facial areas in Parkinson's disease (PD) are responsible for communication of blended, rather than the intended expressions. We consider how assessment of facial expressions made in this way can be used to quantify progress of therapeutic intervention in PD. We also show that in gaining a better understanding of the structure of emotion categories, advances in understanding need not be overshadowed by methodological complexity. The simplicity of the approach presented here leads us to propose that the perceptual and behavioural aspects of affective disorders can now be tackled in a unified manner.

Note: Article Benson PJ, Univ Oxford, Physiol Lab, Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3PT, ENGLAND

Keyword(s): affective disorders; expression measurement; emotion categories; Parkinson's disease; PARKINSONS-DISEASE; DEPRESSION; RECOGNITION; PERCEPTION; PERSISTENCE; FACES

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