Motion Energy Analysis (MEA) is an objective automated method that continuously monitors the amount of movement occurring in pre-defined regions of interest.
This page includes information on tool availability and possible applications.
The basic prerequisites for MEA are a static camera position, stable light conditions, and digitized film material.
We have used MEA in several empirical studies of nonverbal behavior in clinical settings. For detailed information, please refer to the following publications:
- Ramseyer, F., & Tschacher, W. (2011). Nonverbal synchrony in psychotherapy: Coordinated body-movement reflects relationship quality and outcome. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79(3), 284-295. doi:10.1037/a0023419
- Kupper, Z., Ramseyer, F., Hoffmann, H., Kalbermatten, S., & Tschacher, W. (2010). Video-Based quantification of body movement during social interaction indicates the severity of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 121(1-3), 90-100. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2010.03.032
- Ramseyer, F., & Tschacher, W. (2010). Nonverbal synchrony or random coincidence? How to tell the difference. In A. Esposito, N. Campbell, C. Vogel, A. Hussain, & A. Nijholt (Eds.), Development of multimodal interfaces: Active listening and synchrony. (pp. 182-96). Berlin: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-12397-9_15
- Ramseyer, F., & Tschacher, W. (2008). Synchrony in dyadic psychotherapy sessions. In S. Vrobel, O. E. Rössler, & T. Marks-Tarlow (Eds.), Simultaneity: Temporal structures and observer perspectives. (pp. 329-47). Singapore: World Scientific.
- Ramseyer, F., & Tschacher, W. (2006). Synchrony: A core concept for a constructivist approach to psychotherapy. Constructivism in the Human Sciences, 11(1-2), 150-171.
Screen-shot of MEA (running under MAX/MSP 4.5.7)
