Resonating Experiences of Self and Others enabled by a Tangible Somaesthetic Design

Digitalization is penetrating every aspect of everyday life including a human's heart beating, which can easily be sensed by wearable sensors and displayed for others to see, feel, and potentially "bodily resonate" with. Previous work in studying human interactions and interaction designs with physiological data, such as a heart's pulse rate, have argued that feeding it back to the users may, for example support users' mindfulness and self-awareness during various everyday activities and ultimately support their wellbeing. Inspired by Somaesthetics as a discipline, which focuses on an appreciation of the living body's role in all our experiences, we designed and explored mobile tangible heart beat displays, which enable rich forms of bodily experiencing oneself and others in social proximity. In this paper, we first report on the design process of tangible heart displays and then present results of a field study with 30 pairs of participants. Participants were asked to use the tangible heart displays during watching movies together and report their experience in three different heart display conditions (i.e., displaying their own heart beat, their partner's heart beat, and watching a movie without a heart display). We found, for example that participants reported significant effects in experiencing sensory immersion when they felt their own heart beats compared to the condition without any heart beat display, and that feeling their partner's heart beats resulted in significant effects on social experience. We refer to resonance theory to discuss the results, highlighting the potential of how ubiquitous technology could utilize physiological data to provide resonance in a modern society facing social acceleration.Comment: 18 page

PKA phosphorylation activates the calcium release channel (ryanodine receptor) in skeletal muscle: defective regulation in heart failure

The type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) on the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is the major calcium (Ca2+) release channel required for skeletal muscle excitation–contraction (EC) coupling. RyR1 function is modulated by proteins that bind to its large cytoplasmic scaffold domain, including the FK506 binding protein (FKBP12) and PKA. PKA is activated during sympathetic nervous system (SNS) stimulation. We show that PKA phosphorylation of RyR1 at Ser2843 activates the channel by releasing FKBP12. When FKB12 is bound to RyR1, it inhibits the channel by stabilizing its closed state. RyR1 in skeletal muscle from animals with heart failure (HF), a chronic hyperadrenergic state, were PKA hyperphosphorylated, depleted of FKBP12, and exhibited increased activity, suggesting that the channels are “leaky.” RyR1 PKA hyperphosphorylation correlated with impaired SR Ca2+ release and early fatigue in HF skeletal muscle. These findings identify a novel mechanism that regulates RyR1 function via PKA phosphorylation in response to SNS stimulation. PKA hyperphosphorylation of RyR1 may contribute to impaired skeletal muscle function in HF, suggesting that a generalized EC coupling myopathy may play a role in HF

FKBP12.6 Deficiency and Defective Calcium Release Channel (Ryanodine Receptor) Function Linked to Exercise-Induced Sudden Cardiac Death

AbstractArrhythmias, a common cause of sudden cardiac death, can occur in structurally normal hearts, although the mechanism is not known. In cardiac muscle, the ryanodine receptor (RyR2) on the sarcoplasmic reticulum releases the calcium required for muscle contraction. The FK506 binding protein (FKBP12.6) stabilizes RyR2, preventing aberrant activation of the channel during the resting phase of the cardiac cycle. We show that during exercise, RyR2 phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) partially dissociates FKBP12.6 from the channel, increasing intracellular Ca2+ release and cardiac contractility. FKBP12.6−/− mice consistently exhibited exercise-induced cardiac ventricular arrhythmias that cause sudden cardiac death. Mutations in RyR2 linked to exercise-induced arrhythmias (in patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia [CPVT]) reduced the affinity of FKBP12.6 for RyR2 and increased single-channel activity under conditions that simulate exercise. These data suggest that “leaky” RyR2 channels can trigger fatal cardiac arrhythmias, providing a possible explanation for CPVT

Resonating experiences of self and others enabled by a tangible somaesthetic design

Digitalization is penetrating every aspect of everyday life including a human's heart beating, which can easily be sensed by wearable sensors and displayed for others to see, feel, and potentially "bodily resonate" with. Previous work in studying human interactions and interaction designs with physiological data, such as a heart's pulse rate, have argued that feeding it back to the users may, for example support users' mindfulness and self-awareness during various everyday activities and ultimately support their wellbeing. Inspired by Somaesthetics as a discipline, which focuses on an appreciation of the living body's role in all our experiences, we designed and explored mobile tangible heart beat displays, which enable rich forms of bodily experiencing oneself and others in social proximity. In this paper, we first report on the design process of tangible heart displays and then present results of a field study with 30 pairs of participants. Participants were asked to use the tangible heart displays during watching movies together and report their experience in three different heart display conditions (i.e., displaying their own heart beat, their partner's heart beat, and watching a movie without a heart display). We found, for example that participants reported significant effects in experiencing sensory immersion when they felt their own heart beats compared to the condition without any heart beat display, and that feeling their partner's heart beats resulted in significant effects on social experience. We refer to resonance theory to discuss the results, highlighting the potential of how ubiquitous technology could utilize physiological data to provide resonance in a modern society facing social acceleration

Smartphone-delivered, therapist-supported digital health intervention for physicians with burnout

Objective: The aim was to examine change in burnout and depressive symptoms among physicians enrolled in an evidence-based digital health intervention, the Meru Health Program (MHP). Methods: We recruited 27 physicians with evidence of work-related stress as reported from a single-item burnout measure from the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group and enrolled them into an 8-week, smartphone-delivered and therapist-supported program that combines several evidence-based depression treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness meditation. Results: We observed a decrease in burnout (p = 0.049, effect size r = 0.71) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.001, effect size d = -0.9) at post-treatment. Engagement metrics were not significantly associated with outcomes. Conclusion: The MHP, a digital therapist-supported intervention delivered via smartphone application, was found to be a promising intervention for physicians suffering from burnout.Peer reviewe

Smartphone-delivered, therapist-supported digital health intervention for physicians with burnout

Objective: The aim was to examine change in burnout and depressive symptoms among physicians enrolled in an evidence-based digital health intervention, the Meru Health Program (MHP). Methods: We recruited 27 physicians with evidence of work-related stress as reported from a single-item burnout measure from the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group and enrolled them into an 8-week, smartphone-delivered and therapist-supported program that combines several evidence-based depression treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness meditation. Results: We observed a decrease in burnout (p = 0.049, effect size r = 0.71) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.001, effect size d = -0.9) at post-treatment. Engagement metrics were not significantly associated with outcomes. Conclusion: The MHP, a digital therapist-supported intervention delivered via smartphone application, was found to be a promising intervention for physicians suffering from burnout

How do training experience and geographical origin of a runner affect running biomechanics?

Background: Several studies compared African runners with runners from other places with difference ethnicities to identify biomechanical factors that may contribute to their extraordinary running performance. However, most studies only assessed runners at the elite level. Whether the performance difference was a result of nature or nurture remains unclear. Research questions: This case study aimed to assess the effect of geographical origin and the effect of training on running biomechanics. Methods: We recruited twenty male runners from two regions (Asian and Africa) at two performance levels (elite and recreational), and asked them to run on an instrumented treadmill at 12 km∙h−1. We measured running kinetics and kinematics parameters, and focused on the parameters that have been shown associated with running performance. We used Friedman test to compare the effect of geographical origin and training on running biomechanics. Results: Compared to recreational runners, elite runners applied higher amount of ground reaction force in both vertical and anterior-posterior directions (P < 0.05, Cohen's d = 1.63–2.03), together with a longer aerial time (P = 0.039, Cohen's d = 1.11). On the other hand, African runners expressed higher vertical stiffness than Asian runners (P = 0.027, Cohen's d = 0.98). However, the increased vertical stiffness in African runners did not lead to a higher vertical loading rate (P > 0.555, Cohen's d < 0.3), which could be a result of a lower footstrike angle during landing (P = 0.012, Cohen's d = 1.36). Significance: For elite runners, the higher amount of ground reaction force might facilitate a longer aerial time, but could also lead to higher amount of mechanical energy loss. African runners expressed higher vertical stiffness and higher step rate, which might lead to a lower CoM vertical displacement, and furthermore reduce mechanical energy loss