Application of Permutation Entropy and Permutation Min-Entropy in Multiple Emotional States Analysis of RRI Time Series

This study’s aim was to apply permutation entropy (PE) and permutation min-entropy (PME) over an RR interval time series to quantify the changes in cardiac activity among multiple emotional states. Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were recorded under six emotional states (neutral, happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust) in 60 healthy subjects at a rate of 1000 Hz. For each emotional state, ECGs were recorded for 5 min and the RR interval time series was extracted from these ECGs. The obtained results confirm that PE and PME increase significantly during the emotional states of happiness, sadness, anger, and disgust. Both symbolic quantifiers also increase but not in a significant way for the emotional state of fear. Moreover, it is found that PME is more sensitive than PE for discriminating non-neutral from neutral emotional states.Facultad de Ingenierí

Multisensory stress reduction: a neuro-architecture study of paediatric waiting rooms

[EN] The implementation of environmental satisfaction sources in the design of a health centre is a means to achieve stress reduction. The present work analyses the effect that these sources have on the stress reduction of patients¿ companions in a paediatric service. A two-phase study was carried out. During the first phase, 120 participants assessed 20 waiting rooms in situ in order to select the environmental sources with the greatest effect. During the second phase, the stress levels of 26 participants were measured in four simulated waiting rooms that combined the selected sources from the first phase. A multisensory simulation was carried out through a virtual reality experiment with visual, auditory and olfactory elements, and stress levels were measured at the psychological and neurophysiological levels. Results suggest that a combination of environmental satisfaction sources creates an important synergistic effect at the psychological and neurophysiological levels and underlines the importance of auditory and olfactory stimuli. Conclusions may be of interest to designers and managers of healthcare facilities.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad of Spain [grant number TIN2013-45736-R].Higuera-Trujillo, JL.; Llinares Millán, MDC.; Montañana I Aviñó, A.; Rojas, J. (2020). Multisensory stress reduction: a neuro-architecture study of paediatric waiting rooms. Building Research & Information. 48(3):269-285. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613218.2019.1612228S269285483Andrade, C. C., & Devlin, A. S. (2015). Stress reduction in the hospital room: Applying Ulrich’s theory of supportive design. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 41, 125-134. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2014.12.001Andrade, C. C., Devlin, A. S., Pereira, C. R., & Lima, M. L. (2017). 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International Journal of Neuroscience, 119(2), 263-290. doi:10.1080/00207450802333953Higuera-Trujillo, J. L., López-Tarruella Maldonado, J., & Llinares Millán, C. (2017). Psychological and physiological human responses to simulated and real environments: A comparison between Photographs, 360° Panoramas, and Virtual Reality. Applied Ergonomics, 65, 398-409. doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2017.05.006Trujillo, J. L. H., Aviñó, A. M. i, & Millán, C. L. (2016). User Evaluation of Neonatology Ward Design. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 10(2), 23-48. doi:10.1177/1937586716641275Holm, L., & Fitzmaurice, L. (2008). Emergency Department Waiting Room Stress. Pediatric Emergency Care, 24(12), 836-838. doi:10.1097/pec.0b013e31818ea04cHyvärinen, A., & Oja, E. (2000). Independent component analysis: algorithms and applications. Neural Networks, 13(4-5), 411-430. doi:10.1016/s0893-6080(00)00026-5Jessee, P. O., Wilson, H., & Morgan, D. (2000). Medical Play for Young Children. Childhood Education, 76(4), 215-218. doi:10.1080/00094056.2000.10521165Kawakami, K., Takai-Kawakami, K., Okazaki, Y., Kurihara, H., Shimizu, Y., & Yanaihara, T. (1997). The effect of odors on human newborn infants under stress. Infant Behavior and Development, 20(4), 531-535. doi:10.1016/s0163-6383(97)90041-2Kianpour, M., Mansouri, A., Mehrabi, T., & Asghari, G. (2016). Effect of lavender scent inhalation on prevention of stress, anxiety and depression in the postpartum period. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 21(2), 197. doi:10.4103/1735-9066.178248Kim, S., Kim, H.-J., Yeo, J.-S., Hong, S.-J., Lee, J.-M., & Jeon, Y. (2011). The Effect of Lavender Oil on Stress, Bispectral Index Values, and Needle Insertion Pain in Volunteers. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 17(9), 823-826. doi:10.1089/acm.2010.0644Kjellgren, A., & Buhrkall, H. (2010). A comparison of the restorative effect of a natural environment with that of a simulated natural environment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(4), 464-472. doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.01.011Lang, A., Zhou, S., Schwartz, N., Bolls, P. D., & Potter, R. F. (2000). The Effects of Edits on Arousal, Attention, and Memory for Television Messages: When an Edit Is an Edit Can an Edit Be Too Much? Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 44(1), 94-109. doi:10.1207/s15506878jobem4401_7Leather, P., Beale, D., Santos, A., Watts, J., & Lee, L. (2003). Outcomes of Environmental Appraisal of Different Hospital Waiting Areas. Environment and Behavior, 35(6), 842-869. doi:10.1177/0013916503254777Lee, K.-C., Chao, Y.-H., Yiin, J.-J., Chiang, P.-Y., & Chao, Y.-F. (2011). Effectiveness of different music-playing devices for reducing preoperative anxiety: A clinical control study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48(10), 1180-1187. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.04.001Lehrner, J., Eckersberger, C., Walla, P., Pötsch, G., & Deecke, L. (2000). Ambient odor of orange in a dental office reduces anxiety and improves mood in female patients. Physiology & Behavior, 71(1-2), 83-86. doi:10.1016/s0031-9384(00)00308-5Malliani, A. (1999). The Pattern of Sympathovagal Balance Explored in the Frequency Domain. Physiology, 14(3), 111-117. doi:10.1152/physiologyonline.1999.14.3.111Maxfield, L., & Melnyk, W. T. (2000). International Journal of Stress Management, 7(2), 87-101. doi:10.1023/a:1009580101287Moola, S., Pearson, A., & Hagger, C. (2011). Effectiveness of music interventions on dental anxiety in paediatric and adult patients: a systematic review. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 9(18), 588-630. doi:10.11124/01938924-201109180-00001Nanda, U., Chanaud, C., Nelson, M., Zhu, X., Bajema, R., & Jansen, B. H. (2012). Impact of Visual Art on Patient Behavior in the Emergency Department Waiting Room. The Journal of Emergency Medicine, 43(1), 172-181. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2011.06.138NANDA, U., EISEN, S., ZADEH, R. S., & OWEN, D. (2010). Effect of visual art on patient anxiety and agitation in a mental health facility and implications for the business case. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 18(5), 386-393. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2850.2010.01682.xNanda, U., Pati, D., & McCurry, K. (2009). Neuroesthetics and Healthcare Design. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 2(2), 116-133. doi:10.1177/193758670900200210Özer, N., Karaman Özlü, Z., Arslan, S., & Günes, N. (2013). Effect of Music on Postoperative Pain and Physiologic Parameters of Patients after Open Heart Surgery. Pain Management Nursing, 14(1), 20-28. doi:10.1016/j.pmn.2010.05.002Pan, J., & Tompkins, W. J. (1985). A Real-Time QRS Detection Algorithm. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, BME-32(3), 230-236. doi:10.1109/tbme.1985.325532Pedrotti, M., Mirzaei, M. A., Tedesco, A., Chardonnet, J.-R., Mérienne, F., Benedetto, S., & Baccino, T. (2014). Automatic Stress Classification With Pupil Diameter Analysis. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 30(3), 220-236. doi:10.1080/10447318.2013.848320Reinerman-Jones, L., Sollins, B., Gallagher, S., & Janz, B. (2013). Neurophenomenology: an integrated approach to exploring awe and wonder1. South African Journal of Philosophy, 32(4), 295-309. doi:10.1080/02580136.2013.867397Saadatmand, V., Rejeh, N., Heravi-Karimooi, M., Tadrisi, S. D., Zayeri, F., Vaismoradi, M., & Jasper, M. (2013). Effect of nature-based sounds’ intervention on agitation, anxiety, and stress in patients under mechanical ventilator support: A randomised controlled trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 50(7), 895-904. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.11.018Schweitzer, M., Gilpin, L., & Frampton, S. (2004). Healing Spaces: Elements of Environmental Design That Make an Impact on Health. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 10(1), 71-83. doi:10.1089/1075553042245953Scott, L. D., Hwang, W.-T., & Rogers, A. E. (2006). The Impact of Multiple Care Giving Roles on Fatigue, Stress, and Work Performance Among Hospital Staff Nurses. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 36(2), 86-95. doi:10.1097/00005110-200602000-00007Slater, M., & Steed, A. (2000). A Virtual Presence Counter. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 9(5), 413-434. doi:10.1162/105474600566925Slater, M., Usoh, M., & Steed, A. (1994). Depth of Presence in Virtual Environments. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 3(2), 130-144. doi:10.1162/pres.1994.3.2.130Steuer, J. (1992). Defining Virtual Reality: Dimensions Determining Telepresence. Journal of Communication, 42(4), 73-93. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.1992.tb00812.xSuter, E., & Baylin, D. (2007). Choosing art as a complement to healing. 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Building Research & Information, 47(6), 747-766. doi:10.1080/09613218.2017.141113

Multi-lag analysis of symbolic entropies on EEG recordings for distress recognition

Distress is a critical problem in developed societies given its long-term negative effects on physical and mental health. The interest in studying this emotion has notably increased during last years, being electroencephalography (EEG) signals preferred over other physiological variables in this research field. In addition, the non-stationary nature of brain dynamics has impulsed the use of non-linear metrics, such as symbolic entropies in brain signal analysis. Thus, the influence of time-lag on brain patterns assessment has not been tested. Hence, in the present study two permutation entropies denominated Delayed Permutation Entropy and Permutation Min-Entropy have been computed for the first time at different time-lags to discern between emotional states of calmness and distress from EEG signals. Moreover, a number of curve-related features were also calculated to assess brain dynamics across different temporal intervals. Complementary information among these variables was studied through sequential forward selection and 10-fold cross-validation approaches. According to the results obtained, the multi-lag entropy analysis has been able to reveal new significant insights so far undiscovered, thus notably improving the process of distress recognition from EEG recordings.Fil: Martínez Rodrigo, Arturo. Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; EspañaFil: García Martínez, Beatriz. Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; EspañaFil: Zunino, Luciano José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Ópticas. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigaciones Ópticas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Ópticas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Alcaraz, Raúl. Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; EspañaFil: Fernández Caballero, Antonio. Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Mental Health; España. Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Españ

Incorporating Structural Plasticity Approaches in Spiking Neural Networks for EEG Modelling

Structural Plasticity (SP) in the brain is a process that allows neuronal structure changes, in response to learning. Spiking Neural Networks (SNN) are an emerging form of artificial neural networks that uses brain-inspired techniques to learn. However, the application of SP in SNNs, its impact on overall learning and network behaviour is rarely explored. In the present study, we use an SNN with a single hidden layer, to apply SP in classifying Electroencephalography signals of two publicly available datasets. We considered classification accuracy as the learning capability and applied metaheuristics to derive the optimised number of neurons for the hidden layer along with other hyperparameters of the network. The optimised structure was then compared with overgrown and undergrown structures to compare the accuracy, stability, and behaviour of the network properties. Networks with SP yielded ~94% and ~92% accuracies in classifying wrist positions and mental states(stressed vs relaxed) respectively. The same SNN developed for mental state classification produced ~77% and ~73% accuracies in classifying arousal and valence. Moreover, the networks with SP demonstrated superior performance stability during iterative random initiations. Interestingly, these networks had a smaller number of inactive neurons and a preference for lowered neuron firing thresholds. This research highlights the importance of systematically selecting the hidden layer neurons over arbitrary settings, particularly for SNNs using Spike Time Dependent Plasticity learning and provides potential findings that may lead to the development of SP learning algorithms for SNNs

Recognition of Emotional States from EEG Signals with Nonlinear Regularity- and Predictability-Based Entropy Metrics

Recently, the recognition of emotions with electroencephalographic (EEG) signals has received increasing attention. Furthermore, the nonstationarity of brain has intensified the application of nonlinear methods. Nonetheless, metrics like quadratic sample entropy (QSE), amplitude-aware permutation entropy (AAPE) and permutation min-entropy (PME) have never been applied to discern between more than two emotions. Therefore, this study computes for the first time QSE, AAPE and PME for recognition of four groups of emotions. After preprocessing the EEG recordings, the three entropy metrics were computed. Then, a tenfold classification approach based on a sequential forward selection scheme and a support vector machine classifier was implemented. This procedure was applied in a multi-class scheme including the four groups of study simultaneously, and in a binary-class approach for discerning emotions two by two, regarding their levels of arousal and valence. For both schemes, QSE+AAPE and QSE+PME were combined. In both multi-class and binary-class schemes, the best results were obtained in frontal and parietal brain areas. Furthermore, in most of the cases channels from QSE and AAPE/PME were selected in the classification models, thus highlighting the complementarity between those different types of entropy indices and achieving global accuracy results higher than 90% in multi-class and binary-class schemes. The combination of regularity- and predictability-based entropy indices denoted a high degree of complementarity between those nonlinear methods. Finally, the relevance of frontal and parietal areas for recognition of emotions has revealed the essential role of those brain regions in emotional processes.Facultad de IngenieríaCentro de Investigaciones Óptica

NeuroArquitectura: nuevas métricas para el diseño arquitectónico a través del uso de neurotecnologías

Tesis por compendio[ES] La dependencia del entorno lleva a adaptar el espacio a las necesidades. En este sentido, desde que la arquitectura apareciese se han producido sucesivos actos de ordenación del espacio. El resultado es el espacio construido actual. De forma que, al igual que el entorno natural, la arquitectura también tiene importantes efectos en el ser humano. Estos efectos se han abordado a través de diferentes esfuerzos teóricos y prácticos, recibiendo más atención aquellas cuestiones más susceptibles de ser objetivadas. Así, existe un amplio bagaje sobre variados aspectos constructivos que han cristalizado en estándares y normas técnicas. Sin embargo, no son los únicos efectos. También son críticas las cuestiones relacionadas con los efectos sobre el procesamiento y valoración de la información (cognición), y las consecuentes reacciones adaptativas (emoción). Que haya sido sistemáticamente más difícil de estudiar, ha dado lugar a un menor recorrido al respecto. La consciencia sobre esta necesidad, no obstante, no es algo nuevo. La idea de que la dimensión cognitivo-emocional también pueda y deba ser apoyada desde el diseño arquitectónico ha sido foco de reflexiones e investigaciones. Entre ellas, desde: la geometría, la fenomenología del espacio, la geografía de la experiencia, la filosofía, y la psicología; cada una con sus metodologías, de carácter cuantitativo o cualitativo. De alguna forma, estas aproximaciones "tradicionales" se han ido encadenando y combinando para resolver algunos de sus condicionantes específicos. Dilatadamente desarrolladas, ofrecen un cuerpo experimentado para estudiar la dimensión cognitivo-emocional de la arquitectura. Sin embargo, las aproximaciones tradicionales suelen contar con limitaciones derivadas fundamentalmente de dos asuntos: 1) los estímulos presentados; y 2) las evaluaciones empleadas. Por un lado, los estímulos habitualmente empleados son fotografías y vídeos; formatos que carecen de interactividad. Este empobrecimiento de la experiencia puede ser crítico; al diferir la simulación ambiental de la realidad, los resultados también podrían estar distorsionados. Por otro lado, las evaluaciones usualmente se basan en el auto-reporte; sistemas de evaluación que son propensos al sesgo, ya que sólo registran aspectos conscientes de la respuesta humana. Así, la dimensión cognitivo-emocional de la arquitectura requiere ser abarcada desde diferentes perspectivas. La interrelación entre metodologías, especialmente entre las cuantitativas y las cualitativas, puede suponer un avance significativo. De manera más reciente, han surgido nuevas herramientas para aproximarse a la dimensión cognitivo-emocional de la arquitectura. Estas, hasta cierto punto, superan las limitaciones descritas. Lo hacen a través de la incorporación de: 1) estímulos más similares a los espacios reales representados; y 2) evaluaciones más objetivas de la respuesta humana. Así, por un lado, en la actualidad existen formatos para la representación de entornos de manera realista. Por otro lado, la neurociencia y sus tecnologías aplicadas permiten registrar e interpretar las reacciones neurológicas. Sin embargo, sus potenciales no han sido suficientemente explorados en este ámbito de estudio. El objetivo de la presente Tesis Doctoral es contribuir en la investigación y diseño de la dimensión cognitivo-emocional de la arquitectura, a nivel teórico y práctico. A nivel teórico implicó una revisión bibliográfica, contextualizada y crítica, sobre el estudio cognitivo-emocional de la arquitectura desde una perspectiva amplia, considerando el conjunto de aproximaciones: las tradicionales (o base) y las nuevas. Asimismo, también se abordaron ambas aproximaciones a nivel práctico. En cuanto a las tradicionales, la finalidad fue explorar los beneficios de combinar las metodologías cuantitativas y cualitativas más usualmente empleadas. En cuanto a las nuevas, la finalidad fue validar el uso de los actuales sistemas de simulación ambiental y examinar su uso combinado con los sistemas de registro neurofisiológico.[CA] La dependència de l'entorn porta a adaptar l'espai a les necessitats. En aquest sentit, des que l'arquitectura apareguera s'han produït successius actes d'ordenació de l'espai. El resultat és l'espai construït actual. De manera que, igual que l'entorn natural, l'arquitectura també té importants efectes en l'ésser humà. Aquests efectes s'han abordat a través de diferents esforços teòrics i pràctics, rebent més atenció aquelles qüestions més susceptibles de ser objectivades. Així, existeix un ampli bagatge sobre diversos aspectes constructius que han cristal·litzat en estàndards i normes tècniques. No obstant això, no són els únics efectes que té i deu resoldre l'arquitectura. També són crítiques les qüestions relacionades amb els efectes sobre el processament i valoració de la informació (cognició), i les conseqüents reaccions adaptatives (emoció). Que haja sigut sistemàticament més difícil d'estudiar, ha donat lloc a un menor recorregut sobre aquest tema. La consciència sobre aquesta necessitat, no obstant, no és ninguna novetat. La idea que la dimensió cognitiu-emocional també puga i dega ser secundada des del disseny arquitectònic ha sigut focus de reflexions i investigacions. Entre elles, desde de: la geometria, la fenomenologia de l'espai, la geografia de l'experiència, la filosofia i la psicologia; cadascuna amb les seues metodologies, de caràcter quantitatiu o qualitatiu. D'alguna forma, aquestes aproximacions "tradicionals" o "base" s'han anat encadenant i combinant per a resoldre alguns dels seus condicionants específics. Dilatadament desenvolupades, ofereixen un cos experimentat per a estudiar la dimensió cognitiu-emocional de l'arquitectura. No obstant això, les aproximacions tradicionals solen comptar amb limitacions derivades -fonamentalment- de dos assumptes: 1) els estímuls presentats; i 2) les avaluacions emprades. D'una banda, els estímuls habitualment emprats són fotografies i vídeos; formats que manquen d'interactivitat. Aquest empobriment de l'experiència pot ser crític, ja que si la simulació ambiental difereix de la realitat, els resultats també podrien estar distorsionats. D'altra banda, les avaluacions usualment es basen en l'auto-report; sistemes d'avaluació que són propensos al biaix, ja que només registren aspectes conscients de la resposta humana. La dimensió cognitiu-emocional de l'arquitectura requereix ser abordada des de diferents perspectives. Així, la interrelació entre metodologies, especialment entre les quantitatives i les qualitatives, pot suposar un avanç significatiu. D'una manera més recent, han sorgit noves eines per a aproximar-se a la dimensió cognitiu-emocional de l'arquitectura. Aquestes, fins a un cert punt, superen les limitacions descrites. Ho fan a través de la incorporació de: 1) estímuls més similars als espais reals representats; i 2) avaluacions més objectives de la resposta humana. Així, d'una banda, en l'actualitat existeixen formats per a la representació d'entorns de manera realista. D'altra banda, la neurociència i les seues tecnologies aplicades permeten registrar i interpretar les reaccions neurològiques. No obstant això, els seus potencials no han sigut prou explorats en aquest àmbit d'estudi. L’objectiu de la present Tesi Doctoral és contribuir en la investigació i disseny de la dimensió cognitiu-emocional de l’arquitectura, a nivell teòric i pràctic. A nivell teòric va implicar una revisió bibliogràfica, contextualitzada i crítica, sobre l’estudi cognitiu-emocional de l’arquitectura des d’una perspectiva àmplia, considerant el conjunt d’aproximacions: les tradicionals (o base) i les noves. Així mateix, també es van abordar ambdues aproximacions a nivell pràctic. Quant a les tradicionals, la finalitat va ser explorar els beneficis de combinar les metodologies quantitatives i qualitatives més usualment emprades. Quant a les noves, la finalitat va ser validar l’ús dels actuals sistemes de simulació ambiental i examinar el seu ús combinat amb els sistemes de registre neurofisiològic.[EN] Dependence on the environment leads to the adaptation of space to needs. Since the advent of architecture, successive space management activities have taken place. The result is the built environment, our greatest artifact. Like the natural environment, architecture has important effects on humans. These effects have been addressed by different theoretical and practical approaches, with most attention being paid to issues more likely to be objectified. Thus, there exists extensive background on various aspects of construction that have crystallised into technical standards and regulations. However, these are not the only effects that architecture must address. Architectural design triggers brain activation, which raises critical questions about its effects on the processing and assessment of information (cognition) and consequent adaptive reactions (emotion). The fact that the effects of cognition and emotion are systematically difficult to study means that there has been less research in this area. The awareness of the need for more research, however, is not new. The idea that the cognitive-emotional dimension can and should be supported by architectural design has been the focus of earlier thinking and research. The issue has not always been approached from a solely architectural perspective. Among these are geometry, the phenomenology of space, geographical experience, philosophy, and psychology. Each approach has its methodologies, quantitative or qualitative in nature. In various ways, these "traditional" or "base" approaches have been combined to address some of their specific determinants. These approaches offer a developed base from which to study the cognitive-emotional dimension of architecture. However, traditional approaches often have limitations arising, fundamentally, from two issues: (1) the stimuli presented; and (2) the evaluations employed. On the one hand, the stimuli most commonly presented are photographs and videos, formats that lack interactivity. This experiential impoverishment can be critical, as the more that an environmental simulation differs from reality, the greater the chance that any results obtained will be distorted. On the other hand, evaluations are usually based on self-reports, which are prone to bias as they record only conscious human responses. The cognitive-emotional dimension of architecture needs to be approached from different perspectives. Thus, the combination of methodologies, especially the quantitative and qualitative, can provide a significant step forward. In recent times new tools have emerged to address the cognitive-emotional dimension of architecture. These, to some extent, overcome the above-mentioned limitations. They do so by incorporating: 1) stimuli more similar to the actual spaces represented; and 2) more objective assessments of human responses. On the one hand, formats now exist that can present environments realistically. On the other hand, neuroscience and its applied technologies allow researchers to record and interpret neurological reactions. However, their potential has not been sufficiently explored in this field of study. The objective of this doctoral thesis is to contribute to the research and design of the cognitive-emotional dimension of architecture, both on a theoretical and on a practical level. At the theoretical level this involves a bibliographic review, contextualised and critical, of the cognitive-emotional study of architecture from a broad perspective, considering various approaches, the traditional (or base) and new. Both approaches are addressed also on a practical level. The purpose in addressing the traditional approaches is to explore the benefits of combining the most commonly used quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The aim of addressing the new approaches is to validate the environmental simulation systems in current use and examine their operation in combination with neurophysiological measures.Thanks to the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad of Spain (Projects TIN2013-45736-R, BIA2017-86157-R and PRE2018-084051), to the Dirección General de Tráfico - Ministerio del Interior of Spain (Project SPIP2017-02220), and to the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (John Paul Eberhard Fellow 2020).Higuera Trujillo, JL. (2021). NeuroArquitectura: nuevas métricas para el diseño arquitectónico a través del uso de neurotecnologías [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/171261TESISPremiadoCompendi

Symbolic analysis of brain dynamics detects negative stress

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is the most common tool used to study mental disorders. In the last years, the use of this recording for recognition of negative stress has been receiving growing attention. However, precise identification of this emotional state is still an interesting unsolved challenge. Nowadays, stress presents a high prevalence in developed countries and, moreover, its chronic condition often leads to concomitant physical and mental health problems. Recently, a measure of time series irregularity, such as quadratic sample entropy (QSEn), has been suggested as a promising single index for discerning between emotions of calm and stress. Unfortunately, this index only considers repetitiveness of similar patterns and, hence, it is unable to quantify successfully dynamics associated with the data temporal structure. With the aim of extending QSEn ability for identification of stress from the EEG signal, permutation entropy (PEn) and its modification to be amplitude-aware (AAPEn) have been analyzed in the present work. These metrics assess repetitiveness of ordinal patterns, thus causal information within each one of them and obtaining improved estimates of predictability. Results have shown that PEn and AAPEn present a discriminant power between emotional states of calm and stress similar to QSEn, i.e., around 65%. Additionally, they have also revealed complementary dynamics to those quantified by QSEn, thus suggesting a synchronized behavior between frontal and parietal counterparts from both hemispheres of the brain. More precisely, increased stress levels have resulted in activation of the left frontal and right parietal regions and, simultaneously, in relaxing of the right frontal and left parietal areas. Taking advantage of this brain behavior, a discriminant model only based on AAPEn and QSEn computed from the EEG channels P3 and P4 has reached a diagnostic accuracy greater than 80%, which improves slightly the current state of the art. Moreover, because this classification system is notably easier than others previously proposed, it could be used for continuous monitoring of negative stress, as well as for its regulation towards more positive moods in controlled environment