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Review
. 2022 Dec 5;16(4):388-410.
doi: 10.1590/1980-5764-dn-2022-0039. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Construction of face databases for tasks to recognize facial expressions of basic emotions: a systematic review

Daiene de Morais Fabrício  1   2 , Bianca Letícia Cavalmoretti Ferreira  2   3 , Madson Alan Maximiano-Barreto  1   2 , Monalisa Muniz  1   4 , Marcos Hortes Nisihara Chagas  1   2   3   5
Affiliations
Review

Construction of face databases for tasks to recognize facial expressions of basic emotions: a systematic review

Daiene de Morais Fabrício et al. Dement Neuropsychol. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

Recognizing the other's emotions is an important skill for the social context that can be modulated by variables such as gender, age, and race. A number of studies seek to elaborate specific face databases to assess the recognition of basic emotions in different contexts.

Objectives: This systematic review sought to gather these studies, describing and comparing the methodologies used in their elaboration.

Methods: The databases used to select the articles were the following: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Scopus. The following word crossing was used: "Facial expression database OR Stimulus set AND development OR Validation."

Results: A total of 36 articles showed that most of the studies used actors to express the emotions that were elicited from specific situations to generate the most spontaneous emotion possible. The databases were mainly composed of colorful and static stimuli. In addition, most of the studies sought to establish and describe patterns to record the stimuli, such as color of the garments used and background. The psychometric properties of the databases are also described.

Conclusions: The data presented in this review point to the methodological heterogeneity among the studies. Nevertheless, we describe their patterns, contributing to the planning of new research studies that seek to create databases for new contexts.

Reconhecer as emoções do outro é uma habilidade importante para o contexto social, que pode ser modulada por variáveis como sexo, idade e raça. Vários estudos buscam elaborar bancos de faces específicos para avaliar o reconhecimento de emoções básicas em diferentes contextos.

Objetivos: Esta revisão sistemática buscou reunir esses estudos, descrevendo e comparando as metodologias utilizadas em sua elaboração.

Métodos: As bases de dados utilizadas para a seleção dos artigos foram: PubMed, Web of Science, PsycInfo e Scopus. Foi utilizado o seguinte cruzamento de palavras: “facial expression database OR stimulus set AND development OR validation”.

Resultados: O total de 36 artigos mostrou que a maioria dos estudos utilizou atores para expressar as emoções, que foram suscitadas de situações específicas para serem o mais espontâneas possível. Os bancos de faces foram compostos principalmente de estímulos coloridos e estáticos. Além disso, a maioria dos estudos buscou estabelecer e descrever padrões para registrar os estímulos, como a cor das roupas utilizadas e o fundo. As propriedades psicométricas dos bancos de faces também são descritas.

Conclusões: Os dados apresentados nesta revisão apontam para a heterogeneidade metodológica entre os estudos. Apesar disso, descrevemos seus padrões, contribuindo para o planejamento de novas pesquisas que buscam criar bancos de faces específicos para novos contextos.

Keywords: Emotions; Facial Expression; Facial Recognition; Psychometrics; Validation Study.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The article selection process according to the PRISMA initiative recommendations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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