2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Geometric morphometrics for the study of facial expression of pain in common marmosets
Project/Area Number |
21K20616
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Research Institution | Kyoto University |
Principal Investigator |
WILSON DUNCAN 京都大学, 文学研究科, 講師 (20828925)
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Project Period (FY) |
2021-08-30 – 2024-03-31
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Keywords | geometric morphometrics / facial expression / pain / behaviour / common marmoset |
Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
This study aims to quantify changes in facial expression in common marmosets in relation to a routine painful procedure, and validate these changes against traditional pain-related behaviours. In FY2022, I continued to build upon my preliminary analysis of the facial expressions and general behaviour of common marmosets. I expect to complete the full analysis this summer. I also completed work on a separate, but related, project on hormonal and behavioural responses to visual social cues in common marmosets. In addition, I established a new collaboration between Kyoto University, CIEA, and the University of Newcastle, UK, on the automated scoring of marmoset behaviour and facial expressions.
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Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
In FY2022, our paper entitled: ‘CalliFACS: The Common Marmoset Facial Action Coding System’ was published in the journal PLoS ONE. This manual is a new tool which enables users to objectively code facial movements (Action Units) specific to common marmosets. I also worked on a separate research project on common marmosets in collaboration with Dr. Catia Caeiro, Kyoto University. For this project, a masters student and I helped to code video footage of marmoset behaviour. This work entitled: ‘Hormonal and behavioural responses to visual social cues in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)’ is under review in the journal Hormones and Behavior. Contributing to this project led to a slight delay in my own data analysis. In FY2023, I am continuing to work on my analysis of facial expression and behaviour of common marmosets in collaboration with Dr. Vanessa Gris at the Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior, Kyoto University. I expect to complete the analysis this summer and submit a manuscript later this year. Overall, progress is a little behind schedule.
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Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In FY2023, the main focus of the project will be to complete the statistical analysis, submit a manuscript for publication, and disseminate the results. I intend to present the findings at the Japan Society for Marmoset Research (JSMR) Annual Conference in February, 2024. Future research promotion involves working on the automated analysis of facial expressions of pain using machine learning. We have made good progress towards this goal by establishing an MTA (Material Transfer Agreement) of marmoset video data from the Central Institute for Experimental Animals (CIEA) in Japan to the University of Newcastle in the UK. In collaboration with Dr. Takako Miyabe, Kyoto University, and I, experts in AI and laboratory animal welfare at the University of Newcastle will use our video data to develop machine learning algorithms for the automated scoring of marmoset behaviour and facial expressions. This new international collaboration is expected to last from 2023-2027.
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Causes of Carryover |
To complete the project, I will use the remaining funds in the next fiscal year to hire a Masters student to assist with video coding inter-rater reliability, and a postdoctoral researcher to help with statistical analysis. I will meet with our collaborators in the UK, to develop techniques for the automated scoring of marmoset behaviour and facial expressions. I will also use the funds to attend the Japan Society for Marmoset Research (JSMR) Annual Conference to disseminate the final results and for open access publication fees.
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