Motion capture and emotion: Affect detection in whole body movement

Abstract

Bodily expression of felt emotion was associated with emotion-specific changes in gait parameters and kinematics. The emotions angry, sad, content, joy and no emotion at all were elicited in forty-two undergraduates (22 female, 20 male; 20.1 ± 2.7 yrs) while video and whole body motion capture data (120 Hz) were acquired. Participants completed a self-report of felt emotion after each trial. To determine whether the walkers' felt emotions were recognizable in their body movements, video clips of the walkers were shown to 60 undergraduates (29 female, 31 male; 20.9±2.7 yrs). After viewing each video clip, observers selected one of 10 emotions that they thought the walker experienced during the trial. This study provides evidence that emotions can be successfully elicited in the laboratory setting, emotions can be recognized in the body movements of others, and that body movements are affected by felt emotions. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.