Discriminating drivers' emotions through the dimension of power: Evidence from facial infrared thermography and peripheral physiological measurements. (May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Meng; Ihme, Klas; Drewitz, Uwe
• Is Part Of: Transportation research. Volume 63(2019)
• Page Start: 135
• Page End: 143
• Publication Date: 2019-05
• Subjects: Driver state -- Infrared thermography -- Dimension of power -- Fear -- Forehead temperature; Automobile drivers -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Automobile driving -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Transportation -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 629.283019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2019.04.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1369-8478

Abstract

Highlights: Fearful drivers' facial temperature was investigated. Infrared thermography video and automatic facial feature recognition was utilized. Results showed that drivers' forehead temperature was reduced when they experience fear. Results suggested that forehead temperature could indicate emotional power. Facial infrared thermography is suitable for the in-vehicle measurement of emotions. Abstract: The goal of this study was to investigate changes in body temperature as indicators for the emotional dimension of power during driving. Therefore, a driving simulator experiment with 18 participants was conducted, in which two emotions (Fear and noFear) with different characteristics in the dimension of power (low power and high power), which is described as power or weakness feelings of control, were induced using threat and challenge events in the driving scenarios. Infrared thermography video and automatic facial feature recognition were implemented to assess participants' facial temperature. It was revealed that forehead temperature, which is supposed to represent emotional dimension of power, decreased significantly more after threat than after challenge events ( t (17) = −1.83, p = 0.04, Cohen's d = 0.54). These results suggest that forehead temperature as an indicator for the emotional dimension of power can help to measure drivers' fear and thus aid reliable in-vehicle emotion recognition.