A Review of 25 Spontaneous and Dynamic Facial Expression Databases of Basic Emotions
Hyunwoo Kim1, Yifan Bian1, Eva G Krumhuber1
1Department of Experimental Psychology, University College London, 26 Bedford Way, London, WC1H 0AP UK.
Affective Science
|July 3, 2025
Summary
This review highlights 25 facial expression databases (FEDBs) with spontaneous, dynamic emotional displays. It aids researchers in selecting appropriate stimuli for studying basic emotions in real-world contexts.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Computer Science
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Traditional emotion research often uses posed, static facial expressions.
- These static displays lack ecological validity for real-world emotion recognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and categorize existing facial expression databases (FEDBs).
- To focus on databases featuring spontaneous and dynamic displays of basic emotions.
- To guide researchers in selecting appropriate stimuli for their studies.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of 25 facial expression databases.
- Evaluation based on conceptual, technical, and practical features.
- Analysis of emotional content, elicitation procedures, technical specifications, and access information.
Main Results:
- Detailed categorization of 25 FEDBs based on defined criteria.
- Identification of strengths and weaknesses across different databases.
- Assessment of stimulus characteristics like duration, frame rate, and resolution.
Conclusions:
- Existing FEDBs vary significantly in quality and applicability.
- There is a need for more dynamic and ecologically valid emotion databases.
- Recommendations are provided for future database development and research.
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