Typology of facial expressions in study participants during joint solution of the discriminatory AB-X task mediated by video communication

 
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Abstract

In a paired experiment, subjects solved a discriminatory AB-X task. One subject was briefly shown two similar images of transient emotional expressions, A and B, while the other was shown a target image X, matching either A or B. The participants' facial expressions were videotaped throughout the study. For further analysis of facial expressions, we used facial landmarks marking, individual principal component analysis, and a further search for facial expression patterns common to the study participants using k-means cluster analysis. The initial data for the cluster analysis were the loading vectors of individual principal components (up to the 16th component), describing individual complex facial expression patterns. Based on the results of the cluster analysis, 10 clusters were described, fully including the first 5 principal components and partially including components 6 through 12. The identified clusters correspond to the following changes: high-intensity horizontal, vertical, and diagonal shifts of facial position; medium-intensity smile with squinting of the eyes and lowering of the eyebrows; medium-intensity head tilts to the left and right; medium-intensity mouth opening/closing; low-intensity compression of the mouth with simultaneous squinting of the eyes; low-intensity changes in the eyebrow and mouth area; low-intensity left-right rotations around the vertical axis. Further study of changes in the intensity of the generalized principal components during the solution of the target task is planned. It is assumed that this will make it possible to assess the functional role of facial expressions in the conducted model experiment.

General Information

Keywords: emotional expressions, key points, principal component analysis

Journal rubric: Psychology of Perception

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2026190205

Funding. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF), project 24-18-00904, https://rscf.ru/project/24-18-00904/.

Received 03.12.2025

Revised 10.06.2026

Accepted

Published

For citation: Zhegallo, A.V., Basiul, I.A. (2026). Typology of facial expressions in study participants during joint solution of the discriminatory AB-X task mediated by video communication. Experimental Psychology (Russia), 19(2), 67–90. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2026190205

© Zhegallo A.V., Basiul I.A., 2026

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Alexander V. Zhegallo, Candidate of Science (Psychology), Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Systems Research of the Psyche, Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Researcher at the Center for Experimental Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5307-0083, e-mail: zhegalloav@ipran.ru

Ivan A. Basiul, Junior Researcher. Laboratory of Cognitive Processes and Mathematical Psychology, Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lecturer of the Department of General Psychology, Moscow Institute of Psychoanalysis; Research laboratory assistant, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3153-2096, e-mail: basul@inbox.ru

Contribution of the authors

Alexander V. Zhegallo — research ideas; annotation, writing and design of the manuscript; research planning; monitoring of research; data collection and analysis; visualization of research results.

Ivan A. Basyul — development of research software; research planning; research; data collection; manuscript design.

Both authors participated in the discussion of the results and approved the final text of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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