# The establishment of dynamic microexpression training tool

## TL;DR

This study introduces a new training tool, DMETT, to improve the ability to recognize dynamic microexpressions in various emotional contexts.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the development and validation of DMETT for dynamic microexpression recognition training.

## Key findings

- DMETT effectively improves dynamic microexpression recognition ability with good reliability and validity.
- METT techniques are suitable for training dynamic microexpression recognition.
- DMETT can serve as a training and future measurement tool for microexpression learning ability.

## Abstract

The existing microexpression training tool METT only trains the static microexpression recognition ability under neutral background, but does not train the dynamic microexpression recognition ability under expression backgrounds. Therefore, in the current study, the dynamic microexpression recognition ability test DMERT was used as pretest and posttest, the METT recognition techniques were guided and trained, and the dynamic microexpression training tool DMETT was established as a training tool for dynamic microexpression recognition ability. The experiment was conducted in 3 stages (pretest vs. training vs. posttest) × 7 (background expression: sadness vs. Disgust vs. fear vs. anger vs. surprise vs. happiness vs. Neutral) × 2 (background expression emotional arousal: 3 vs. 5) × 6 (dynamic microexpression: sadness vs. Disgust vs. fear vs. anger vs. surprise vs. happiness) × 2 (emotional arousal of dynamic microexpression: 1 → 2 → 3 → 2 → 1 vs. 3 → 4 → 5 → 4 → 3). The results showed that: (1) The DMETT could effectively improve dynamic microexpression recognition ability with good reliability and validity. (2) The METT recognition techniques were suitable for training dynamic microexpression recognition ability. (3) The DMETT could be used as a training tool of dynamic microexpression recognition ability, and can be further verified to serve as a measurement tool of microexpression learning ability in the future. (4) There was no gender difference in general dynamic microexpression recognition ability, but females outperformed males in general dynamic microexpression recognition learning with small effect sizes.