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.
Screen-shot of MEA 4.10b (running under MAX/MSP 7)
I have used MEA in multiple empirical studies of nonverbal behavior in clinical settings and in healthy dyads (see section “publications”).
For detailed information, please refer to the following publications:
- Ramseyer, F. T. (2020). Motion Energy Analysis (MEA). A primer on the assessment of motion from video. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 67(4). 536-549. doi:10.1037/cou0000407
Ramseyer_JCP_MEA_special_issue_2019
For more information, instuctions and test-data, there is an accompanying project on the Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/gkzs3/
See also the original publication using MEA:
- 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
Nonverbal_Synchrony_Ramseyer_Tschacher_2011