Understanding Mouse Emotions with MouseLab
Mice are the most used animals in scientific research, yet we know very little about their subjective, affective states or "emotions." MouseLab proposes a novel approach to uncover this through facial expression analysis. Based on previous observations and studies on humans and animals, including laboratory rodents, it is known that facial expressions are a rich source of emotional information which is, as of yet, underutilized for research.
The movement of facial muscles produces significant difference in the positioning of the eyes, the ears, the nose and the muzzle area of rodents. MouseLab identifies and tracks points representing the facial features, enabling comparison of their changes throughout the experiment. Seven highly informative facial parameters are computed from the facial points, providing more accurate insight into the animal's affective state.
Facial Parameters Tracked by MouseLab
Facial Points
All the points used to track the facial features.
Eye Opening
Informs on eyelid tightening.
Ear Opening
Quantifies how much of the inner ear pavilion is visible, depending on the ear orientation.
Ear Position
Indicates whether the ear is inclined forward or backward.
Ear Angle
Measures the presence of an ear tilt.
Snout Position
Assesses whether the snout is rounder or pointier.
Mouth Position
Quantifies the tightening of the lips.
Face Inclination
Measures the general convexity of the head.