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Emotion Influences on Biomechanics

Research Project

I lead the Emotion on Motion research project at the Neuromuscular and Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Lab at the University of Texas at Dallas. We analyze how emotions influence movement using motion capture technology. I routinely run data collections with participants and have them perform movement tasks that reflect daily living while in a motion capture suit that contains infrared reflective markers. Our 16-camera system (Vicon) tracks the markers allowing me to create a 3D model of their movements. 

After the trials are cleaned in Vicon Nexus and computed using custom pipelines in Visual3D, I can transform the trials into specific parameters that can relate to gait performance, balance impairment, and other fall-risk characteristics. MATLAB is utilized for auxiliary data processing. Using R, I apply statistical models to the data to analyze for significant differences across emotional states. To date, I have recruited and assisted with 20+ participants for data collections. I have presented this work at the Summer Platform for Undergraduate Research hosted by the University of Texas at Dallas.