title: A method for obtaining 3-dimensional facial expressions and its standardization for use in neurocognitive studies.
abstract: Facial expressions of emotion are increasingly being used in neuroscience as probes for functional imaging and as stimuli for studying hemispheric specialization for face and emotion processing. Available facial stimuli are 2-dimensional and therefore, their orientation is fixed and poorly suited for examining asymmetries, they are often obtained under poorly specified conditions, usually posed, lack ethnic diversity, and are of restricted age range. We describe a method for accurately acquiring and reconstructing the geometry of the human face and for display of this reconstruction in a 3-dimensional format. We applied the method in a sample of 70 actors and 69 actresses expressing happiness, sadness, anger, fear and disgust, as well as neutral expressions. Each emotion was expressed under three levels of intensity and under both posed and evoked conditions. Resulting images are of high technical quality and are accurately identified by raters. The stimuli can be downloaded in digital form as 'movies' where angle and orientation can be manipulated for inclusion in functional imaging probes or in tests that can be administered as measures of individual differences in facial emotion processing. The database of emotional expressions can also be used as a standard for comparison with clinical populations.
authors: Brain Behavior Laboratory, Neuropsychiatry Division, Department of Psychiatry, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. gur@bbl.psycha.upenn.edu
authors: Ruben C
authors: RC
authors: Gur
authors: Radim
authors: R
authors: Sara
authors: Michiel
authors: M
authors: Hagendoorn
authors: Oren
authors: O
authors: Marom
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Hughett
authors: Larry
authors: L
authors: Macy
authors: Travis
authors: T
authors: Turner
authors: Ruzena
authors: R
authors: Bajcsy
authors: Aaron
authors: A
authors: Posner
authors: Raquel E
authors: RE
authors: Gur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009488:Neurosciences; D010781:Photography