I am currently exploring in how far it is possible to use (combinations of) sensors to measure (electro magnetic) signals (aka EM-Biofield) to collect objective data which can be interpreted to reflect subjective mental states.
I am experimenting with HRV derived from Polar H10 and Kubios, but get stuck with the interpretation of parameters, Spectra and Poincare plots - eventually there is a clever way to combine this with meaningful EEG or other parameters.
Eventually it could make sense to also use tone of voice (FFT) t complement the assessment - which of course is only possible in an active mode - whereas the HRV / EEG would also work passive.
Any other parameters that could be used ? Like Skin conductance, skin temperature?
Thanks!
Hi Thomas,
HRV parameters change in response to stress (and perhaps other mental states). For example RMSSD (a popular time domain index) decreases in response to stress. Also, you may observe decrease in PSD in various frequencies (HF and LF). The LF/HF ratio is mentioned as sympatho-vagal balance in some literature and as an index for monitoring mental state, but there is a huge controversy on that. Very important to consider that such changes in HRV are not specific enough. As a within-subject factor, HRV has significant diurnal variation, is sensitive to respiratory rate and amplitude, diet, etc. and therefore since these factors are not stable over time any change in HRV over time can not be specifically attributed to mental states, unless you can be sure that other factors are stable over the time of interest.Pay attention that available data are from experimental studies in laboratories and under very precise conditions, and by no means can be generalized to daily life. Data from daily life situation will come in near future hopefully.
Also, pay attention that different subjects have different cardiovascular response to mental stress. In some you see vagal withdrawal while in others you see an increase in vagal activity. So, there are various phenotypes. Therefore, you may not be able to use HRV as a specific between subject comparator for mental state, or you need a very large sample of subjects and several trait and state measures to find those phenotypes.
I don't have info about how you can combine EEG with HRV, nor on the voice. The electrodermal activity is popular in psychological studies for monitoring stress response, though.
Good luck
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