Zeng Tao

Huanzhen Wang, Ziheng Zhou, Zeng Tao et al.

The human brain constructs emotional percepts not by processing facial expressions in isolation, but through a dynamic, hierarchical integration of sensory input with semantic and contextual knowledge. However, existing vision-based dynamic emotion modeling approaches often neglect emotion perception and cognitive theories. To bridge this gap between machine and human emotion perception, we propose cognition-inspired Dual-stream Semantic Enhancement (DuSE). Our model instantiates a dual-stream cognitive architecture. The first stream, a Hierarchical Temporal Prompt Cluster (HTPC), operationalizes the cognitive priming effect. It simulates how linguistic cues pre-sensitize neural pathways, modulating the processing of incoming visual stimuli by aligning textual semantics with fine-grained temporal features of facial dynamics. The second stream, a Latent Semantic Emotion Aggregator (LSEA), computationally models the knowledge integration process, akin to the mechanism described by the Conceptual Act Theory. It aggregates sensory inputs and synthesizes them with learned conceptual knowledge, reflecting the role of the hippocampus and default mode network in constructing a coherent emotional experience. By explicitly modeling these neuro-cognitive mechanisms, DuSE provides a more neurally plausible and robust framework for dynamic facial expression recognition (DFER). Extensive experiments on challenging in-the-wild benchmarks validate our cognition-centric approach, demonstrating that emulating the brain's strategies for emotion processing yields state-of-the-art performance and enhances model interpretability.

Xinji Mai, Junxiong Lin, Haoran Wang et al.

In the field of affective computing, fully leveraging information from a variety of sensory modalities is essential for the comprehensive understanding and processing of human emotions. Inspired by the process through which the human brain handles emotions and the theory of cross-modal plasticity, we propose UMBEnet, a brain-like unified modal affective processing network. The primary design of UMBEnet includes a Dual-Stream (DS) structure that fuses inherent prompts with a Prompt Pool and a Sparse Feature Fusion (SFF) module. The design of the Prompt Pool is aimed at integrating information from different modalities, while inherent prompts are intended to enhance the system's predictive guidance capabilities and effectively manage knowledge related to emotion classification. Moreover, considering the sparsity of effective information across different modalities, the SSF module aims to make full use of all available sensory data through the sparse integration of modality fusion prompts and inherent prompts, maintaining high adaptability and sensitivity to complex emotional states. Extensive experiments on the largest benchmark datasets in the Dynamic Facial Expression Recognition (DFER) field, including DFEW, FERV39k, and MAFW, have proven that UMBEnet consistently outperforms the current state-of-the-art methods. Notably, in scenarios of Modality Missingness and multimodal contexts, UMBEnet significantly surpasses the leading current methods, demonstrating outstanding performance and adaptability in tasks that involve complex emotional understanding with rich multimodal information.

Zeng Tao, Yan Wang, Junxiong Lin et al.

The performance of CLIP in dynamic facial expression recognition (DFER) task doesn't yield exceptional results as observed in other CLIP-based classification tasks. While CLIP's primary objective is to achieve alignment between images and text in the feature space, DFER poses challenges due to the abstract nature of text and the dynamic nature of video, making label representation limited and perfect alignment difficult. To address this issue, we have designed A$^{3}$lign-DFER, which introduces a new DFER labeling paradigm to comprehensively achieve alignment, thus enhancing CLIP's suitability for the DFER task. Specifically, our A$^{3}$lign-DFER method is designed with multiple modules that work together to obtain the most suitable expanded-dimensional embeddings for classification and to achieve alignment in three key aspects: affective, dynamic, and bidirectional. We replace the input label text with a learnable Multi-Dimensional Alignment Token (MAT), enabling alignment of text to facial expression video samples in both affective and dynamic dimensions. After CLIP feature extraction, we introduce the Joint Dynamic Alignment Synchronizer (JAS), further facilitating synchronization and alignment in the temporal dimension. Additionally, we implement a Bidirectional Alignment Training Paradigm (BAP) to ensure gradual and steady training of parameters for both modalities. Our insightful and concise A$^{3}$lign-DFER method achieves state-of-the-art results on multiple DFER datasets, including DFEW, FERV39k, and MAFW. Extensive ablation experiments and visualization studies demonstrate the effectiveness of A$^{3}$lign-DFER. The code will be available in the future.

Junxiong Lin, Yan Wang, Zeng Tao et al.

Pre-trained diffusion models utilized for image generation encapsulate a substantial reservoir of a priori knowledge pertaining to intricate textures. Harnessing the potential of leveraging this a priori knowledge in the context of image super-resolution presents a compelling avenue. Nonetheless, prevailing diffusion-based methodologies presently overlook the constraints imposed by degradation information on the diffusion process. Furthermore, these methods fail to consider the spatial variability inherent in the estimated blur kernel, stemming from factors such as motion jitter and out-of-focus elements in open-environment scenarios. This oversight results in a notable deviation of the image super-resolution effect from fundamental realities. To address these concerns, we introduce a framework known as Adaptive Multi-modal Fusion of \textbf{S}patially Variant Kernel Refinement with Diffusion Model for Blind Image \textbf{S}uper-\textbf{R}esolution (SSR). Within the SSR framework, we propose a Spatially Variant Kernel Refinement (SVKR) module. SVKR estimates a Depth-Informed Kernel, which takes the depth information into account and is spatially variant. Additionally, SVKR enhance the accuracy of depth information acquired from LR images, allowing for mutual enhancement between the depth map and blur kernel estimates. Finally, we introduce the Adaptive Multi-Modal Fusion (AMF) module to align the information from three modalities: low-resolution images, depth maps, and blur kernels. This alignment can constrain the diffusion model to generate more authentic SR results.

Haoran Wang, Xinji Mai, Zeng Tao et al.

The contemporary state-of-the-art of Dynamic Facial Expression Recognition (DFER) technology facilitates remarkable progress by deriving emotional mappings of facial expressions from video content, underpinned by training on voluminous datasets. Yet, the DFER datasets encompass a substantial volume of noise data. Noise arises from low-quality captures that defy logical labeling, and instances that suffer from mislabeling due to annotation bias, engendering two principal types of uncertainty: the uncertainty regarding data usability and the uncertainty concerning label reliability. Addressing the two types of uncertainty, we have meticulously crafted a two-stage framework aiming at \textbf{S}eeking \textbf{C}ertain data \textbf{I}n extensive \textbf{U}ncertain data (SCIU). This initiative aims to purge the DFER datasets of these uncertainties, thereby ensuring that only clean, verified data is employed in training processes. To mitigate the issue of low-quality samples, we introduce the Coarse-Grained Pruning (CGP) stage, which assesses sample weights and prunes those deemed unusable due to their low weight. For samples with incorrect annotations, the Fine-Grained Correction (FGC) stage evaluates prediction stability to rectify mislabeled data. Moreover, SCIU is conceived as a universally compatible, plug-and-play framework, tailored to integrate seamlessly with prevailing DFER methodologies. Rigorous experiments across prevalent DFER datasets and against numerous benchmark methods substantiates SCIU's capacity to markedly elevate performance metrics.