Identifying Emotions Using Topographic Conditioning Maps

Abstract. The amygdala is the neural structure that acts as an evaluator of potentially threatening stimuli. We present a biologically plausible model of the visual fear conditioning pathways leading to the amygdala, using a topographic conditioning map (TCM). To evaluate the e first use abstract stimuli to understand its ability to form topographic representations, and subsequently to condition on arbitrary stimuli. We then present results on facial emotion recognition using the sub-cortical pathway of the model. Compared to other emotion classification approaches, our model performs well, but does not have the need to pre-specify features. This generic ability to organise visual stimuli is enhanced through conditioning, which also improves classification performance. Our approach demonstrates that a biologically motivated model can be applied to real-world tasks, while allowing us to explore biological hypotheses. Key words: emotion recognition, fear conditioning, visual pathways

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2008
• Where: ICONIP
• Authors: Athanasios Pavlou, Matthew C. Casey
• Keywords: Emotion Recognition, Fear Conditioning, Fear Conditioning Pathways, ICONIP 2008, Information Technology