scholarly journals Personal Resilience Can Be Well Estimated from Heart Rate Variability and Paralinguistic Features during Human–Robot Conversations

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 5844
Author(s):  
Shin-Min Hsu ◽  
Sue-Huei Chen ◽  
Tsung-Ren Huang

Mental health is as crucial as physical health, but it is underappreciated by mainstream biomedical research and the public. Compared to the use of AI or robots in physical healthcare, the use of AI or robots in mental healthcare is much more limited in number and scope. To date, psychological resilience—the ability to cope with a crisis and quickly return to the pre-crisis state—has been identified as an important predictor of psychological well-being but has not been commonly considered by AI systems (e.g., smart wearable devices) or social robots to personalize services such as emotion coaching. To address the dearth of investigations, the present study explores the possibility of estimating personal resilience using physiological and speech signals measured during human–robot conversations. Specifically, the physiological and speech signals of 32 research participants were recorded while the participants answered a humanoid social robot’s questions about their positive and negative memories about three periods of their lives. The results from machine learning models showed that heart rate variability and paralinguistic features were the overall best predictors of personal resilience. Such predictability of personal resilience can be leveraged by AI and social robots to improve user understanding and has great potential for various mental healthcare applications in the future.

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syem Ishaque ◽  
Naimul Khan ◽  
Sri Krishnan

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the rate of variability between each heartbeat with respect to time. It is used to analyse the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), a control system used to modulate the body's unconscious action such as cardiac function, respiration, digestion, blood pressure, urination, and dilation/constriction of the pupil. This review article presents a summary and analysis of various research works that analyzed HRV associated with morbidity, pain, drowsiness, stress and exercise through signal processing and machine learning methods. The points of emphasis with regards to HRV research as well as the gaps associated with processes which can be improved to enhance the quality of the research have been discussed meticulously. Restricting the physiological signals to Electrocardiogram (ECG), Electrodermal activity (EDA), photoplethysmography (PPG), and respiration (RESP) analysis resulted in 25 articles which examined the cause and effect of increased/reduced HRV. Reduced HRV was generally associated with increased morbidity and stress. High HRV normally indicated good health, and in some instances, it could signify clinical events of interest such as drowsiness. Effective analysis of HRV during ambulatory and motion situations such as exercise, video gaming, and driving could have a significant impact toward improving social well-being. Detection of HRV in motion is far from perfect, situations involving exercise or driving reported accuracy as high as 85% and as low as 59%. HRV detection in motion can be improved further by harnessing the advancements in machine learning techniques.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 146-150
Author(s):  
Ed Maunder ◽  
Andrew E. Kilding ◽  
Christopher J. Stevens ◽  
Daniel J. Plews

A common practice among endurance athletes is to purposefully train in hot environments during a “heat stress camp.” However, combined exercise-heat stress poses threats to athlete well-being, and therefore, heat stress training has the potential to induce maladaptation. This case study describes the monitoring strategies used in a successful 3-week heat stress camp undertaken by 2 elite Ironman triathletes, namely resting heart rate variability, self-report well-being, and careful prescription of training based on previously collected physiological data. Despite the added heat stress, training volume very likely increased in both athletes, and training load very likely increased in one of the athletes, while resting heart rate variability and self-report well-being were maintained. There was also some evidence of favorable metabolic changes during routine laboratory testing following the camp. The authors therefore recommend that practitioners working with endurance athletes embarking on a heat stress training camp consider using the simple strategies employed in the present case study to reduce the risk of maladaptation and nonfunctional overreaching.


10.2196/12590 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. e12590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul N Kizakevich ◽  
Randall P Eckhoff ◽  
Gregory F Lewis ◽  
Maria I Davila ◽  
Laurel L Hourani ◽  
...  

Background Psychological resilience is critical to minimize the health effects of traumatic events. Trauma may induce a chronic state of hyperarousal, resulting in problems such as anxiety, insomnia, or posttraumatic stress disorder. Mind-body practices, such as relaxation breathing and mindfulness meditation, help to reduce arousal and may reduce the likelihood of such psychological distress. To better understand resilience-building practices, we are conducting the Biofeedback-Assisted Resilience Training (BART) study to evaluate whether the practice of slow, paced breathing with or without heart rate variability biofeedback can be effectively learned via a smartphone app to enhance psychological resilience. Objective Our objective was to conduct a limited, interim review of user interactions and study data on use of the BART resilience training app and demonstrate analyses of real-time sensor-streaming data. Methods We developed the BART app to provide paced breathing resilience training, with or without heart rate variability biofeedback, via a self-managed 6-week protocol. The app receives streaming data from a Bluetooth-linked heart rate sensor and displays heart rate variability biofeedback to indicate movement between calmer and stressful states. To evaluate the app, a population of military personnel, veterans, and civilian first responders used the app for 6 weeks of resilience training. We analyzed app usage and heart rate variability measures during rest, cognitive stress, and paced breathing. Currently released for the BART research study, the BART app is being used to collect self-reported survey and heart rate sensor data for comparative evaluation of paced breathing relaxation training with and without heart rate variability biofeedback. Results To date, we have analyzed the results of 328 participants who began using the BART app for 6 weeks of stress relaxation training via a self-managed protocol. Of these, 207 (63.1%) followed the app-directed procedures and completed the training regimen. Our review of adherence to protocol and app-calculated heart rate variability measures indicated that the BART app acquired high-quality data for evaluating self-managed stress relaxation training programs. Conclusions The BART app acquired high-quality data for studying changes in psychophysiological stress according to mind-body activity states, including conditions of rest, cognitive stress, and slow, paced breathing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyewon Kim ◽  
Dong Jun Kim ◽  
Seonwoo Kim ◽  
Won Ho Chung ◽  
Kyung-Ah Park ◽  
...  

Introduction: Although, attempts to apply virtual reality (VR) in mental healthcare are rapidly increasing, it is still unclear whether VR relaxation can reduce stress more than conventional biofeedback.Methods: Participants consisted of 83 healthy adult volunteers with high stress, which was defined as a score of 20 or more on the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). This study used an open, randomized, crossover design with baseline, stress, and relaxation phases. During the stress phase, participants experienced an intentionally generated shaking VR and serial-7 subtraction. For the relaxation phase, participants underwent a randomly assigned relaxation session on day 1 among VR relaxation and biofeedack, and the other type of relaxation session was applied on day 2. We compared the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-X1 (STAI-X1), STAI-X2, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and physiological parameters including heart rate variability (HRV) indexes in the stress and relaxation phases.Results: A total of 74 participants were included in the analyses. The median age of participants was 39 years, STAI-X1 was 47.27 (SD = 9.92), and NRS was 55.51 (SD = 24.48) at baseline. VR and biofeedback significantly decreased STAI-X1 and NRS from the stress phase to the relaxation phase, while the difference of effect between VR and biofeedback was not significant. However, there was a significant difference in electromyography, LF/HF ratio, LF total, and NN50 between VR relaxation and biofeedback.Conclusion: VR relaxation was effective in reducing subjectively reported stress in individuals with high stress.


2011 ◽  
Vol 01 (01/03) ◽  
pp. 23-29
Author(s):  
Shrikant L. Patil ◽  
E. Sreekumaran ◽  
A.P. Krishna

Abstract Introduction: Aromatherapy is categorized as a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and has been steadily gaining popularity in today's society. Aromatherapy is considered by many to promote comfort, well-being and invigorating. However there appears to be insufficient supporting evidence to validate physiological changes that may reflect invigoration. Objectives: This study examined the physiological effects of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) aromatherapy as indicated by heart rate variability. Aerobic fitness is one of the non invasive and simplest parameters which help in accessing one's fitness. In this present study we have also evaluated the efficacy of aromatherapy on the individual's physical fitness. Methods: Total thirty healthy college students were selected as a subject who has attended four sessions in random order involving only exercise, aromatherapy and exercise combined. Each intervention lasted 15 minutes. Heart rate data were recorded for all sessions, and heart rate variability was analyzed. Aerobic fitness parameters also evaluated with the help of standard methods. Results: There was statistically significant difference in LF/HF between the two intervention studies. During this aromatherapy, physiological responses such as oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio and minute ventilation were significantly altered among different groups. Aerobic fitness was observed higher in aromatherapy combined exercise group against the only exercise group. Conclusion: These results suggest significant physiological effect of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) aromatherapy interventions occurs in the autonomic nervous system as indicated by heart rate variability. The present study demonstrates that good estimated aerobic fitness was independently associated with aromatherapy and exercise.


2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 997-1006
Author(s):  
Ute Vollmer-Conna ◽  
Jessica E Beilharz ◽  
Erin Cvejic ◽  
Claire L Macnamara ◽  
Michelle Doherty ◽  
...  

Objective: Mental health problems among medical students have been widely reported, but the predisposing and perpetuating factors and biological concomitants are poorly understood. Adopting a biopsychosocial approach, we studied well-being in a group of Australian medical students, focusing on sleep, autonomic and immune mechanisms, as well as mental, social and physical well-being, health-related behaviours, and daily functioning. Methods: Fourth-year medical students ( N = 151) completed comprehensive assessments, including laboratory-based and nocturnal autonomic monitoring via ambulatory bioharness, a psychiatric diagnostic interview, and questionnaires assessing sleep quality and psychosocial and physical well-being. A blood sample was taken to quantify the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein. Sleep, mood and activity was additionally monitored daily for 7 days. Results: A sizable minority of students reported diminished physical, mental and psychosocial well-being. We also found concerning levels of sleep disturbance and social and occupational impairment in a subset of students. The strong co-occurrence of problems across symptom domains supported a biopsychosocial interdependence of health and well-being states. Maladaptive coping behaviours were apparent, notably hazardous alcohol consumption, which was associated with a clinically significant elevation in C-reactive protein levels (> 3 mg/L). We documented, for the first time, significantly diminished nocturnal heart rate variability in medical students with a mental health diagnosis. Nocturnal heart rate variability was strongly associated with sleep quality, daytime autonomic stress reactivity, as well as occupational and social functioning. Conclusion: Well-being is a multifaceted phenomenon firmly interlinked with sleep, autonomic and immune function, health behaviours and functional outcomes. Our novel findings supported a key role for nocturnal autonomic function in promoting sleep quality and mental well-being. Interventions could focus on sleep hygiene and health behaviours as a buffer for well-being and teach more adaptive strategies for coping with the stresses of medical training.


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