Measuring asymmetry from high-density 3D surface scans: An application to human faces

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207895
• Publication Date: 2018-12-26T13:39:22Z
• Authors: Omid Ekrami; Peter Claes; Julie D. White; Arslan A. Zaidi; Mark D. Shriver; Stefan Van Dongen
• Keywords: Fluctuating asymmetry; Landmark; Iterative closest point; Facial symmetry

Perfect bilateral symmetry is the optimal outcome of development traits in absence developmental perturbations. Any random perturbation this perfect symmetrical state called Fluctuating Asymmetry (FA). Many studies have been conducted on FA as an indicator Developmental Instability (DI) and its possible link with stress individual quality general attractiveness, health level masculinity or femininity humans. Most human facial asymmetry use 2D pictures a limited number landmarks. We developed protocol to utilize high-density 3D scans faces measure asymmetry. A completely symmetric spatially dense anthropometric mask paired vertices non-rigidly mapped target using Iterative Closest Point (ICP) registration algorithm. set 19 manually indicated landmarks were used validate mapping precision. The protocol's accuracy calculation assessed, results show that approach more accurate. In addition, it generates integrated estimate across entire face. Finally, automatic nature provides great advantage by omitting tedious step manual landmark indication biological structure interest.