Facial expression detection for screening and treatment of affective disorders

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system and method for using facial recognition and mimicry workflows to train cognitive and emotional empathy. The system and methods comprise the use of physiological measurements (e.g., EEG, etc.) in combinations with facial recognition to detect user affect and modify one or more cognitive screening instruments to further promote a user affect. One or more specific emotions associated with one or more specific negative cognitive bias are targeted to influence affect. One or more specific psychopathology may be treated using an emotional recognition training component within a computerized cognitive-bias modification regimen. The regimen may comprise the identification, targeting, and modification of emotions and may utilize one or more facial inputs, cognitive tasks, facial recognition and facial mimicry protocols to adaptively modify one or more attributes of one or more computerized stimuli or interactions within a computerized platform or platform-product.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for facial image processing, comprising:
 providing, with a computing device comprising a user interface, an instance of a computerized stimuli or interaction comprising an emotional expression prompt;   receiving, with a camera being operably engaged with the computing device, a digital image of a facial expression of a user in response to the computerized stimuli or interaction;   processing, with at least one processor, the digital image to determine a valence input and an intensity or arousal input corresponding to the facial expression;   comparing, with the at least one processor, the valence input and the intensity or arousal input to a predetermined valence and intensity or arousal range associated with the emotional expression prompt; and   determining, with the at least one processor, a measure of concordance between the facial expression of the user and the emotional expression prompt.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the emotional expression prompt comprises presenting an image or icon representative of an emotional expression and prompting the user to mimic the emotional expression. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining, with the processor, a measure of a cognitive bias or an affective state of the user according to the measure of concordance between the facial expression of the user and the emotional expression prompt. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising measuring, with at least one physiological sensor, at least one physiological input concomitantly with receiving the digital image of the facial expression of the user in response to the emotional expression prompt. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing, with the computing device, a second or subsequent instance of the computerized stimuli or interaction according to the measure of concordance between the facial expression of the user and the emotional expression prompt. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the computerized stimuli or interaction is associated with a computerized cognitive-bias modification regimen. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising modifying, with the processing device, a second or subsequent instance of the computerized stimuli or interaction according to the cognitive bias or the affective state of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising determining, with the processing device, an affective state of the user according to the at least one physiological input. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising modifying, with the processing device, a second or subsequent instance of the computerized stimuli or interaction according to the affective state of the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising determining, with the processing device, a measure of change in the cognitive bias or affective state of the user in response to the second or subsequent instance of the computerized stimuli or interaction. 
     
     
         11 . A system for facial image processing, comprising:
 a computing device comprising a camera configured to receive a digital image of a facial expression of a user in real-time;   an integral or remote processor communicatively engaged with the computing device; and   a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processor to perform one or more operations, the one or more operations comprising:   rendering an instance of a computerized stimuli or interaction comprising an emotional expression prompt to the computing device;   receiving a real-time digital image of a facial expression of a user in response to the computerized stimuli or interaction;   processing the digital image to determine a valence input and an intensity input corresponding to the facial expression;   comparing the valence input and the intensity input to a predetermined valence and intensity range associated with the emotional expression prompt; and   determining a measure of concordance between the facial expression of the user and the emotional expression prompt.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising at least one physiological sensor operably engaged with the processor to measure at least one physiological sensor input in response to the computerized stimuli or interaction. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the emotional expression prompt comprises rendering an image or icon representative of an emotional expression and prompting the user to mimic the emotional expression. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the one or more operations further comprise determining a measure of a cognitive bias or an affective state of the user according to the measure of concordance between the facial expression of the user and the emotional expression prompt. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the one or more operations further comprise rendering a second or subsequent instance of the computerized stimuli or interaction according to the measure of concordance between the facial expression of the user and the emotional expression prompt. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the one or more operations further comprise modifying a second or subsequent instance of the computerized stimuli or interaction according to the cognitive bias or the affective state of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more operations further comprise modifying a second or subsequent instance of the computerized stimuli or interaction according to the at least one physiological sensor input. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the one or more operations further comprise modifying a second or subsequent instance of the computerized stimuli or interaction according to the measure of concordance between the facial expression of the user and the emotional expression prompt. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the one or more operations further comprise determining a measure of change in the cognitive bias or affective state of the user in response to the second or subsequent instance of the computerized stimuli or interaction. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for commanding one or more processors to execute operations of a method for facial image processing, the operations comprising:
 providing a first instance of a computerized stimuli or interaction comprising an emotional expression prompt to an output device;   receiving a digital image of a facial expression of a user in response to the emotional expression prompt;   processing the digital image to determine a valence input and an intensity input corresponding to the facial expression;   comparing the valence input and the intensity input to a predetermined valence and intensity range associated with the facial expression prompt; and   determining a measure of concordance between the facial expression of the user and the emotional expression prompt.