The FACIAL Study Pilot

NCT07011407 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: FHM-2024-4068-RECR-2
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 15
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Facial recognition is a non-invasive method for analysing facial characteristics and changes in facial expressions. There is evidence to suggest there may be a link between physiological health and facial expression patterns. Many medical conditions are associated with specific facial characteristics, with some related to inherited genetic conditions and others that have been acquired as a result of medical conditions such as stroke, nerve injuries and dementia. If successful, this technology could prove useful for studies evaluating the monitoring of acute or chronic illness. The proposed study will ask participants to do a maximal exercise test that will challenge the body, as a proof-of-principle, to see how this correlates with facial expressions. Depending on the study outcomes and future work, it could prove to be a useful tool and clinical application in healthcare for evaluating and tracking patient health and well-being. The investigators want to conduct a proof-of-principle study where physically stressed young and healthy participants (in the form of a maximal exercise test), whilst recording facial expressions, will be used to determine the relationship between physiological stress and changes in facial parameters.

Conditions

Healthy Adult

Keywords

Facial Characteristics; Exercise; Thermal Patterns; Facial Expression; Maximal Exercise Test

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Change in distance between facial features

  Change in inter-feature distance (e.g., between eyes, mouth corners) during different phases of exercise, captured using video and still images to detect facial regions and landmarks. Unit: millimetres (mm).

  60 minutes

• Change in size and shape of facial features

  Change in facial feature dimensions (e.g., width and height of eyes, mouth) and geometric shape indices during different phases of exercise. Additionally, captured using video and still images to detect facial regions and landmarks. Units: millimetres² or shape index (unitless).

  60 minutes

• Change in facial blood flow patterns

  Regional blood flow variation across facial regions during exercise, captured through thermal imaging. Unit: perfusion units or arbitrary units (a.u.)

  60 minutes

• Change in facial temperature

  Alterations in surface temperature across facial regions during exercise, measured with thermal imaging. Units: degrees Celsius (°C)

  60 minutes

• Change in facial skin colour

  Variation in facial colour intensity and hue across regions during exercise, analysed from captured video, thermal imaging and still images. Unit of measure: RGB values

  60 minutes

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Change in heart rate

  60 minutes

• Change in heart rate variability (HRV)

  60 minutes

• Change in blood glucose

  60 minutes

• Change in Blood Lactate

  60 minutes

Interventions

Maximal Exercise Test OTHER

Healthy participants will be situated on a cycle ergometer fitted with a 12-lead ECG or chest-strap heart rate monitor. Data from the questionnaire will be stored in a study site file in a locked cabinet in an office. Baseline readings will be obtained whilst on the bike for 3 minutes before the subject embarks on a 3-minute warm-up at 50 Watts (W). The workload (watts) on the bike is then increased to a workload that corresponds to a heart rate of 120 bpm (gentle exercise). The workload will then be increased by 25-50W every three minutes until volitional exhaustion. Between each stage, there will be a 30s rest period where the participant will be cycling with minimal resistance ("freewheeling") but will be otherwise stationary on the cycle ergometer. Still images of the face and facial video recordings will be taken during a 30s rest period between increases in exercise intensity. A finger-prick blood sample (glucose \& lactate) will be taken at the beginning and every 3 minutes.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy participants from the general public, inlcuding students and staff from the university.

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18 to 35
• Male or female
• Capable of completing a maximal exercise test
• Answer "NO" to all variables in the Physical Activity Readiness questionnaire (PAR-Q)

You may not qualify if:

• Musculoskeletal injury
• Cardiovascular disease
• Neurological disease, stroke, or other disease that may affect facial expressions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lancaster University: lead
• University of Central Lancashire: collaborator
• East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University

Lancaster, Lancashire, LA1 4YW, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity; Facial Expression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Nonverbal Communication; Communication

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Senior Lecturer in Integrative Physiology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 29, 2025
• First Posted: June 8, 2025
• Study Start: June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: August 12, 2025
• Study Completion: December 31, 2025
• Last Updated: June 8, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)