In the field of affective neuroscience and beyond, facial expressions—and, more recently, body postures—have received considerable attention, becoming preferred stimuli for the study of emotions. Investigating how emotions are conveyed and recognized through both facial expressions and bodily postures has important implications for achieving a more ecologically valid understanding of human behavior, as both types of cues are essential for accurately perceiving others’ emotions and intentions.

This Research Topic will explore the methodological and ethical challenges involved in conducting studies of this kind, seeking to critically evaluate and enhance current methodologies that investigate emotions through bodily and facial cues. Among these, we consider not only the more traditional and widespread methods such as the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), emotion recognition software (e.g., FaceReader), techniques for recording physiological parameters (e.g., heart rate variability, skin conductance response), neuroimaging techniques (e.g., functional magnetic resonance imaging [fMRI]) and electroencephalography, but also the more recent facial recognition systems developed with AI and/or neural networks and deep learning.

The aim is to foster advancements toward authentic ecological settings that mirror real-time human interactions more closely and realistically. The emphasis is on overcoming the predominant reliance on staged, unrepresentative samples(of both participants and stimuli) that do not accurately reflect the diversity and complexity of real human emotions.

By addressing these methodological challenges, such as limited ecological validity and the lack of real-world context, the collection aims to develop innovative, realistic stimuli and methods, such as immersive environments and naturalistic interactions, that ensure broader applicability and deeper insight into human emotional dynamics.

Central areas to this theme include, but are not limited to, the following:

Emotional Recognition Mechanisms and the Exploration of Cognitive and Neural Processes Behind Emotion Detection: This theme welcomes contributions that investigate the underlying cognitive and neural mechanisms involved in recognizing emotions, particularly through bodily postures and facial expressions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the role of perception, attention, memory, and individual differences in the accuracy and interpretation of emotional cues. Papers may also examine the influence of cultural, social, or environmental factors on emotion recognition, as well as the implications for improving emotion-based technologies or interventions.

Current Methodological Challenges: Research that highlights the necessity for ecologically valid stimuli that encapsulate the complexity of real-life emotions. This welcomes discussions on developing more naturalistic stimuli and experimental paradigms that reflect genuine social contexts.

Bias Awareness and Mitigation: Investigating the impact of inherent biases—stemming from race, gender, ethnicity and neurodiversity—in research settings. Contributors are encouraged to examine how these biases affect stimuli selection, experimental design, and the generalizability of results. Strategies, such as diversifying participant samples, implementing blind or double-blind study designs, and utilizing algorithmic fairness tools, to mitigate these biases in future research are also welcomed.

Interdisciplinary Perspectives: Studies that emphasize the importance of cross-disciplinary integration, giving insights in philosophical, psychological, and neuroscientific perspectives to broaden our understanding of emotional expression and recognition.

This Research Topic welcomes discussions and innovations that promote inclusivity and realism in emotion science, addressing key biases and methodological constraints. We encourage submissions that are at the forefront of exploring these dynamic interactions, aiming to bridge gaps and integrate varied academic insights for a richer, more inclusive approach to emotion research.
We are interested in a variety of manuscript types, including:

• Original Research articles
• Brief Research Report articles
• Review articles (Systematic review, review and mini review articles)
• Hypothesis and Theory articles
• Perspective articles
• Methods articles
• Opinion articles

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Beyond the Lab: Addressing Methodological and Ethical Challenges in Studying Emotions through Bodily Postures and Facial Expressions

Topic Coordinator