Facial emotion mimicry in older adults with and without cognitive impairments due to Alzheimer's disease

Justyna Gerłowska; Krzysztof Dmitruk; Konrad Rejdak; Justyna Gerłowska; Krzysztof Dmitruk; Konrad Rejdak

doi:10.3934/Neuroscience.2021012

AIMS Neuroscience

2021, Volume 8, Issue 2: 226-238. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2021012

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Research article Topical Sections

Facial emotion mimicry in older adults with and without cognitive impairments due to Alzheimer's disease

1.
Department of Educational Psychology and Psychological Assessment, Institute of Psychology University of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Lublin, Poland
2.
Institute of IT, University of Maria Skłodowska-Curie, Lublin, Poland
3.
Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland

Received: 06 January 2021 Accepted: 25 January 2021 Published: 27 January 2021

Facial expression of humans is one of the main channels of everyday communication. The reported research work investigated communication regarding the pattern of emotional expression of healthy older adults and with mild cognitive impairments (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD). It focuses on mimicking of displayed emotional facial expression on a sample of 25 older adults (healthy, MCI and AD patients). The adequacy of the patients' individual facial expressions in six basic emotions was measured with the Kinect 3D recording of the participants' facial expressions and compared to their own typical emotional facial expressions. The reactions were triggered by mimicking 49 still pictures of emotional facial expressions. No statistically significant differences in terms of frequency nor adequacy of emotional facial expression were reported in healthy and MCI groups. Unique patterns of emotional expressions have been observed in the AD group. Further investigating the pattern of older adults' facial expression may decrease the misunderstandings and increase the quality of life of the patients.
- emotion,
- aging,
- cognitive impairment,
- Alzheimer's disease,
- mild cognitive impairments
Citation: Justyna Gerłowska, Krzysztof Dmitruk, Konrad Rejdak. Facial emotion mimicry in older adults with and without cognitive impairments due to Alzheimer's disease[J]. AIMS Neuroscience, 2021, 8(2): 226-238. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2021012

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Abstract

Facial expression of humans is one of the main channels of everyday communication. The reported research work investigated communication regarding the pattern of emotional expression of healthy older adults and with mild cognitive impairments (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD). It focuses on mimicking of displayed emotional facial expression on a sample of 25 older adults (healthy, MCI and AD patients). The adequacy of the patients' individual facial expressions in six basic emotions was measured with the Kinect 3D recording of the participants' facial expressions and compared to their own typical emotional facial expressions. The reactions were triggered by mimicking 49 still pictures of emotional facial expressions. No statistically significant differences in terms of frequency nor adequacy of emotional facial expression were reported in healthy and MCI groups. Unique patterns of emotional expressions have been observed in the AD group. Further investigating the pattern of older adults' facial expression may decrease the misunderstandings and increase the quality of life of the patients.

Acknowledgments

The study described herein was performed while Justyna Gerłowska was representing the Medical University of Lublin, Department of Neurology.

Author contributions

JG substantial contribution to the conception, design of the work, data acquisition, analysis, interpretation of data for the work, drafting the work, and final approval of the version to be published, KD substantial contribution to the design of the work, analysis, interpretation of data for the work, drafting the work, and final approval of the version to be published study design, KR substantial contribution to the conception, design of the work, revising critically data for the work for important intellectual content, and final approval of the version to be published data collection. All authors agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that question related to the accuracy of integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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