Emotional valence sensing using a wearable facial EMG device

AbstractEmotion sensing using physiological signals in real-life situations can be practically valuable. Previous studies have developed wearable devices that record autonomic nervous system activity, which reflects emotional arousal. However, no study determined whether emotional valence can be assessed using wearable devices. To this end, we developed a wearable device to record facial electromyography (EMG) from the corrugator supercilii (CS) and zygomatic major (ZM) muscles. To validate the device, in Experiment 1, we used a traditional wired device and our wearable device, to record participants’ facial EMG while they were viewing emotional films. Participants viewed the films again and continuously rated their recalled subjective valence during the first viewing. The facial EMG signals recorded using both wired and wearable devices showed that CS and ZM activities were, respectively, negatively and positively correlated with continuous valence ratings. In Experiment 2, we used the wearable device to record participants’ facial EMG while they were playing Wii Bowling games and assessed their cued-recall continuous valence ratings. CS and ZM activities were correlated negatively and positively, respectively, with continuous valence ratings. These data suggest the possibility that facial EMG signals recorded by a wearable device can be used to assess subjective emotional valence in future naturalistic studies.

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Ambiguity Processing Bias Induced by Depressed Mood Is Associated with Diminished Pleasantness

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-55277-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xiao-Xiao Lin ◽

Ya-Bin Sun ◽

Yu-Zheng Wang ◽

Lu Fan ◽

Xin Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Processing ◽

Depressed Mood ◽

Facial Electromyography ◽

Facial Emg ◽

Corrugator Supercilii ◽

Judgement Bias ◽

Processing Bias ◽

Neutral Mood ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Source Of Information

AbstractDepressed individuals are biased to perceive, interpret, and judge ambiguous cues in a negative/pessimistic manner. Depressed mood can induce and exacerbate these biases, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We theorize that depressed mood can bias ambiguity processing by altering one’s subjective emotional feelings (e.g. pleasantness/unpleasantness) of the cues. This is because when there is limited objective information, individuals often rely on subjective feelings as a source of information for cognitive processing. To test this theory, three groups (induced depression vs. spontaneous depression vs. neutral) were tested in the Judgement Bias Task (JBT), a behavioral assay of ambiguity processing bias. Subjective pleasantness/unpleasantness of cues was measured by facial electromyography (EMG) from the zygomaticus major (ZM, “smiling”) and from the corrugator supercilii (CS, “frowning”) muscles. As predicted, induced sad mood (vs. neutral mood) yielded a negative bias with a magnitude comparable to that in a spontaneous depressed mood. The facial EMG data indicates that the negative judgement bias induced by depressed mood was associated with a decrease in ZM reactivity (i.e., diminished perceived pleasantness of cues). Our results suggest that depressed mood may bias ambiguity processing by affecting the reward system.

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Facial EMG Correlates of Subjective Hedonic Responses During Food Consumption

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12041174 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 1174 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Wataru Sato ◽

Kazusa Minemoto ◽

Akira Ikegami ◽

Makoto Nakauma ◽

Takahiro Funami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Consumption ◽

Emg Activity ◽

Physiological Measures ◽

Subjective Ratings ◽

Facial Electromyography ◽

Facial Emg ◽

Corrugator Supercilii ◽

Hedonic Experience ◽

Valence And Arousal ◽

Liking Rating

An exploration of physiological correlates of subjective hedonic responses while eating food has practical and theoretical significance. Previous psychophysiological studies have suggested that some physiological measures, including facial electromyography (EMG), may correspond to hedonic responses while viewing food images or drinking liquids. However, whether consuming solid food could produce such subjective–physiological concordance remains untested. To investigate this issue, we assessed participants’ subjective ratings of liking, wanting, valence, and arousal while they consumed gel-type food stimuli of various flavors and textures. We additionally measured their physiological signals, including facial EMG from the corrugator supercilii. The results showed that liking, wanting, and valence ratings were negatively correlated with corrugator supercilii EMG activity. Only the liking rating maintained a negative association with corrugator supercilii activity when the other ratings were partialed out. These data suggest that the subjective hedonic experience, specifically the liking state, during food consumption can be objectively assessed using facial EMG signals and may be influenced by such somatic signals.

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Reliability of surface facial electromyography

10.31219/osf.io/j5ke3 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ursula Hess ◽

Ruben C. Arslan ◽

Heidi Mauersberger ◽

Christophe Blaison ◽

Michael Dufner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Temporal Stability ◽

Affective Reactions ◽

Facial Electromyography ◽

Affective Stimuli ◽

Facial Emg ◽

Corrugator Supercilii ◽

Per Se ◽

Method Factors ◽

Over Time ◽

Zygomaticus Major

Data from two studies were used to estimate the reliability of facial EMG when used to index facial mimicry (Study 1) or affective reactions to pictorial stimuli (Study 2). Results for individual muscle sites varied between muscles and depending on data treatment. For ifference scores, acceptable internal consistencies were found only for corrugator supercilii, and test-retest reliabilities were low. For contrast measures describing patterns of reactions to stimuli, such as high zygomaticus major combined with low corrugator upercilii, acceptable internal consistencies were found for facial reactions to smiling faces and positive affective reactions to affiliative images (Study 2). Facial reactions to negative emotions (Study 1) and facial reactions to power and somewhat less to chievement imagery (Study 2) showed unsatisfactory internal consistencies. For contrast measures, good temporal stability over 24 months (Study 1) and 15 months (Study 2), respectively, was obtained. In Study 1, the effect of method factors such as mode of presentation was more reliable than the emotion effect. Overall, people’s facial reactions to affective stimuli seem to be influenced by a variety of factors other than the emotion-eliciting element per se, which resulted in biased internal consistency estimates. However, the influence of these factors in turn seemed to be stable over time.

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Facial EMG Activity Is Associated with Hedonic Experiences but Not Nutritional Values While Viewing Food Images

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13010011 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 11

Author(s):

Wataru Sato ◽

Sakiko Yoshikawa ◽

Tohru Fushiki

Keyword(s):

Nutritional Assessment ◽

Practical Interest ◽

Emg Activity ◽

Skin Potential ◽

Nutritional Values ◽

Facial Electromyography ◽

Facial Emg ◽

Corrugator Supercilii ◽

Food Images ◽

Valence And Arousal

The physiological correlates of hedonic/emotional experiences to visual food stimuli are of theoretical and practical interest. Previous psychophysiological studies have shown that facial electromyography (EMG) signals were related to subjective hedonic ratings in response to food images. However, because other data showed positive correlations between hedonic ratings and objective nutritional values of food, whether the facial EMG reactions to food images could reflect the hedonic evaluation or nutritional assessment of food remains unknown. To address this issue, we measured subjective hedonic ratings (liking, wanting, valence, and arousal) and physiological signals (facial EMG of the corrugator supercilii, zygomatic major, masseter, and suprahyoid muscles, skin potential responses, and heart rates) while participants observed food images that had objective nutritional information (caloric, carbohydrate, fat, and protein contents). The results revealed that zygomatic major EMG activity was positively correlated with ratings of liking, wanting, and valence, but not with any objective nutritional value. These data indicate that facial EMG signals in response to food images reflect subjective hedonic experiences, but not objective nutritional values, associated with the food item.

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Comparisons of physical activity and sedentary behavior between owners and non-owners of commercial wearable devices

Perspectives in Public Health ◽

10.1177/1757913921989389 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 141 (2) ◽

pp. 89-96

Author(s):

Hsin-Yen Yen ◽

Hao-Yun Huang

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Sedentary Time ◽

Short Form ◽

Wearable Devices ◽

Wearable Device ◽

World Health ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

Quality Of Life Scale

Aims: Wearable devices are a new strategy for promoting physical activity in a free-living condition that utilizes self-monitoring, self-awareness, and self-determination. The main purpose of this study was to explore health benefits of commercial wearable devices by comparing physical activity, sedentary time, sleep quality, and other health outcomes between individuals who used and those that did not use commercial wearable devices. Methods: The research design was a cross-sectional study using an Internet survey in Taiwan. Self-administered questionnaires included the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile, and World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale. Results: In total, 781 participants were recruited, including 50% who were users of wearable devices and 50% non-users in the most recent 3 months. Primary outcomes revealed that wearable device users had significantly higher self-reported walking, moderate physical activity, and total physical activity, and significantly lower sedentary time than non-users. Wearable device users had significantly better sleep quality than non-users. Conclusion: Wearable devices inspire users’ motivation, engagement, and interest in physical activity through habit formation. Wearable devices are recommended to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary behavior for promoting good health.

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