Abstract -- Emotion Expression and Transient Myocardial Ischemia
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
The objective of this project is to use an established method
of measuring facial activity to determine if negative emotional
expressions are related to the occurrence of Transient Myocardial
Ischemia (TMI). TMI has been found to be prevalent among patients
with coronary atherosclerosis, and a significant predictor of
fatal and non-fatal cardiac events. The facial measures have been
used previously to differentiate individuals classified as
Type A or Type B, and to identify expressions of specific negative
emotions found to coincide with changes in cardiac activity.
This work will be done in the context of an already funded study
where it is possible to examine the relationships between facial
expressions of emotion and behavioral interventions designed to
reduce the frequency, duration and intensity of TMI episodes.
Facial behavior from audio/video records being collected during
standard structured interviews will be measured using Ekman and
Friesen's Facial Action Coding System. There are three aims:
Aim 1: To examine the relationship between expressive behavior
and TMI during mental stress tasks. Our purpose is to specify what
type of mental stress -- which emotional reaction to stress is
evident in the face -- is related to the occurrence of ischemic events.
Aim2: To determine whether the efficacy of the intervention programs
designed to reduce TMI is related to the expressive behavior shown
prior to intervention, and whether the different interventions
influence different aspects of emotional behavior.
Aim 3: To explore
the relationship between our facial expression measures and the other
psychometric measures being collected, in particular to determine how
the facial measures of hostility, anger, disgust, and contempt
relate to scores on the Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory.
HIL Home Page
For further information contact: Joseph C. Hager
jchager@ibm.net
Last updated: Oct. 23, 1995
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