Analysis of Facial Motion Using Digitized Images / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many tools are available for the evaluation of facial motion. They run the gamut from the gross scale proposed by House and May, the regional scale preferred by Adour and Yanagihara and the personal computers used by Neely and Isono. However, more objective and accurate tools of evaluation are still in need. With the aim of establishing a simple, objective evaluation method of facial motion, we devised a computerized image-difference analysis system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Facial motions of 14 normal volunteers were analyzed utilizing the computerized image-difference analysis system. Techniques such as image capturing, subtraction and thresholding were used to anlayze resting, smiling and eyeclosing motions of face. RESULTS: The subtracted image of a resting-face from an eye-closing face showed a greater movement in the eye area than in the mouth area. The subtracted image of a resting-face from a smiling face showed a greater movement in the mouth area than in the eye area. But there were no statistical differences between the right and the left side of the face of the same subject(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It is possible to use the image analysis system to access facial motion of subjects with or without the normal facial motion.