Recognition of Emotion in Facial Expressions: the Comparison of FaceReader to fEMG and Self-report.

Abstract

In the current research, the differences between FaceReader, facial EMG and self-report in detecting facial expressions were examined. Additionally, the accuracy of the three measurement methods based on their distinctiveness was taken into account. Prior research suggested that FaceReader has an accuracy of 89%. However, further findings were limited. On the other side, fEMG proved itself as a sensitive and reliable tool in multiple studies. Therefore, it is of interest whether FaceReader, due to its advantages against fEMG, could perform on the same level as fEMG. Expected was that FaceReader and fEMG would show similar results on facial expression scores. This is studied by exposing 26 undergraduate participants to three emotion inducing film clips (sadness, disgust and fear) and one neutral film clip. Each film clip was presented five times. FaceReader and fEMG were performed at the same time. The results show that FaceReader, fEMG and VAS did not show any similarity on their facial emotion expression outcome. Moreover, findings suggest that the intended facial emotions were not expressed by the participants. It seems FaceReader is not capable of distinguishing between the emotion expression of sadness, disgust and fear. However, FaceReader and fEMG could observe a decrease in the facial expression outcome across time. This suggests that FaceReader is a potential measurement method in detecting changes over time of negative valence. Further research must demonstrate whether FaceReader could be implemented in clinical practise as a useful tool for measuring facial emotions.