Video of Compound Affect (VoCA)
Video of Compound Affect (VoCA) is a collection of 156 colour facial expression videos posed by one subject. Each expression is presented from multiple angles (frontal, 45-degree profile, and 90-degree profile) under natural lighting conditions. The expressions form a catalogue of compound configurations associated with the emotion labels happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, fear, surprise, and contempt.
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Overview
The dataset is organised by compound type, including single-upper/single-lower combinations, neutral-in-one-region configurations, and dual-action combinations. It is designed to support research on face processing and emotion labelling, including studies involving clinical populations, and work examining partial facial neutrality.
The catalogue structure supports both outcome-focused research and feasibility work on how complex, controlled expressions appear in motion and across viewpoints.
How the videos are organised
VoCA groups expressions by compound configuration type (e.g., single upper + single lower; neutral upper + single lower; dual upper + dual lower). Contempt compounds include unilateral actions combined with other configurations.
Each expression is provided at three camera angles, supporting analysis of how compound actions read in motion and how viewpoint influences visibility and interpretation.
Method and limits
Videos were recorded across two sessions on consecutive days in August 2021, with efforts made to keep camera position, angle, head orientation, clothing, and lighting consistent. Emotion labels were selected through review of multiple sources and consensus coding, as described in the dataset documentation.
Where use depends on FACS code metafields, the documentation recommends additional certified coder input, reflecting time and cost constraints at the time of release.
The documentation should be treated as part of the dataset: it clarifies intended use and methodological limits.
Access and use
Download bundles and supplementary documentation are available directly via the ReShare record, under a CC BY 4.0 licence for the files listed there. Use the ReShare page as the canonical source for current files, metadata, and citation guidance.
The record recommends media players that support frame-by-frame navigation and magnification for detailed coding work.