EFFECT OF EMOTION ON THE KINEMATICS OF GAIT

Emotion is expressed through multiple physiological channels including voice, facial expression, body movements, autonomic responses and subjective experience. Facial and bodily expressions of emotion can be recognized cross-culturally, suggesting a biological component (Ekman, 1971; Hejmadi, 2000). Although emotions have been recognized in individuals during walking, emotion-related gait characteristics have been described only qualitatively, e.g., “heavy-footed” for angry gait (Montepare, 1987). Such qualitative descriptions limit understanding of the biological phenomena underlying bodily expression of emotion. The effects of emotions on gait have not yet been described quantitatively.