Subtle interactions for distress regulation: efficiency of a haptic wearable according to personality

The incorporation of empathic systems in everyday life draws a lot of attention from society. Specifically, the use of wearables to perform stress regulation is a growing field of research. Among techniques explored, the haptic emulation of lowered physiological signals has been suggested to be promising. However, some discrepancies remain in empirical research focusing on such biofeedback (BF) regarding their efficacy, and the mechanisms underlying the effects of these wearables remains unclear. Moreover, the influence of individual traits on the efficiency of BF has been marginally studied, while it has been shown that personality could impact both stress and its regulation. The aim of this study is to investigate the outcome of interactions with these technologies from a psycho-physiological standpoint, but also to explore whether personality may influence its efficiency when other interaction devices are present. Participants had to play a challenging game while a lowered haptic BF of their heart rate was induced on their wrist. Results showed variable efficiency of the wearable among the participants: a subjective relaxation was evident for the participants exhibiting the highest neurotic and extraverted traits score. Our results highlight the plurality of the modes of action of these techniques, depending on the individual and on the level of stress to regulate. This study also suggests that tailoring these regulation methods to individual characteristics, such as personality traits, is important to consider, and proposes perspectives regarding the investigation of stress and regulation systems embedded in wearables

Determination of cognitive workload variation in driving from ECG derived respiratory signal and heart rate

2nd International Neuroergonomics Conference, PHILADELPHIE, ETATS-UNIS, 27-/06/2018 - 29/06/2018Research works on operator monitoring underline the benefit of taking into consideration several signal modalities to improve accuracy for an objective mental state diagnosis. Heart rate (HR) is one of the most utilized systemic measures to assess cognitive workload (CW), whereas respiration parameters are hardly utilized. This study aims at verifying the contribution of analyzing respiratory signals to extract features to evaluate driver's activity and CW variations in driving with regard to cardiac activity. Eighteen subjects participated in the study. The participants carried out two different cognitive tasks requiring different CW demands, a single task as well as a competing cognitive task realized while driving in a simulator. Our results confirm that both HR and breathing rate (BR) increase in driving and are sensitive to CW. However, HR and BR are differently modulated by the CW variations in driving. Specifically, BR is suitable to evidence a variation of CW when driving is not required. On the other hand, spectral features characterizing respiratory signal could be also used similarly to HR variability indices to detect high CW episodes. These results hint the use of respiration to monitor the driver mental state in autonomic vehicles in order to predict the available cognitive resources if the user has to take over the vehicle

Early mobilisation in critically ill COVID-19 patients: a subanalysis of the ESICM-initiated UNITE-COVID observational study

Background Early mobilisation (EM) is an intervention that may improve the outcome of critically ill patients. There is limited data on EM in COVID-19 patients and its use during the first pandemic wave. Methods This is a pre-planned subanalysis of the ESICM UNITE-COVID, an international multicenter observational study involving critically ill COVID-19 patients in the ICU between February 15th and May 15th, 2020. We analysed variables associated with the initiation of EM (within 72 h of ICU admission) and explored the impact of EM on mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay, as well as discharge location. Statistical analyses were done using (generalised) linear mixed-effect models and ANOVAs. Results Mobilisation data from 4190 patients from 280 ICUs in 45 countries were analysed. 1114 (26.6%) of these patients received mobilisation within 72 h after ICU admission; 3076 (73.4%) did not. In our analysis of factors associated with EM, mechanical ventilation at admission (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.25, 0.35; p = 0.001), higher age (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.98, 1.00; p ≤ 0.001), pre-existing asthma (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.73, 0.98; p = 0.028), and pre-existing kidney disease (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.71, 0.99; p = 0.036) were negatively associated with the initiation of EM. EM was associated with a higher chance of being discharged home (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.08, 1.58; p = 0.007) but was not associated with length of stay in ICU (adj. difference 0.91 days; 95% CI − 0.47, 1.37, p = 0.34) and hospital (adj. difference 1.4 days; 95% CI − 0.62, 2.35, p = 0.24) or mortality (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.7, 1.09, p = 0.24) when adjusted for covariates. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that a quarter of COVID-19 patients received EM. There was no association found between EM in COVID-19 patients' ICU and hospital length of stay or mortality. However, EM in COVID-19 patients was associated with increased odds of being discharged home rather than to a care facility. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04836065 (retrospectively registered April 8th 2021)

Stress variations and auditory omissions: a pilot study

Neuroergonomics, e-conference, , 11-/09/2021 - 16/09/2021The use of auditory alerts is widespread in peripheral monitoring activities, where the attentional focus of the operator can be diverted from the monitored system toward a secondary task (Hermann et al., 2011). In such activities, an attentional cross-modal phenomenon can arise, leading to omit critical auditory alerts when the operator presents an over-engagement toward a visual task (Dehais et al., 2019). This pilot study had two objectives: - Explore the occurrence of ID (behaviorally defined as the occurence of omissions) during a secondary task imitating those which could take place in large-public contexts (e.g., autonomous driving), and its neurophysiological correlates. - Study the suitability of subtle biofeedback stress reduction and examine whether it affects the occurrence of ID (Béquet, Hidalgo-Muñoz & Jallais, 2020)

Effets du stress et de sa régulation sur les processus perceptifs et cognitifs.

EPIQUE 2021, LILLE, FRANCE, 07-/07/2021 - 09/07/2021Les futurs véhicules permettraient l'alternance entre des phases de conduite autonome et des phases de conduite manuelle. Cette transition est cruciale sur le plan attentionnel et repose sur l'utilisation d'alertes. La littérature a montré que des omissions de perceptions d'alertes sonores peuvent être liées à un niveau élevé d'engagement attentionnel dans une tâche annexe. L'objectif de ce travail en cours est d'investiguer les conditions de création du phénomène d'omission, ainsi que l'efficacité d'une contremesure pour réguler ces états (ici un biofeedback temps-réel du rythme cardiaque). Les participants ont réalisé une double tâche consistant en une détection d'alertes sonores et en un jeu mnésique présentant des variations de difficulté et de stress. Des données physiologiques, subjectives et comportementales ont été collectées. Les premiers résultats montrent un impact des conditions sur les trois dimensions. La poursuite de l'analyse des données devrait nous permettre d'étudier sous divers angles les phénomènes attentionnels et les impacts du biofeedback générés lors de l'expérimentation

Towards Mindless Stress Regulation in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems: A Systematic Review

Background: Stress can frequently occur in the driving context. Its cognitive effects can be deleterious and lead to uncomfortable or risky situations. While stress detection in this context is well developed, regulation using dedicated advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) is still emergent.Objectives: This systematic review focuses on stress regulation strategies that can be qualified as ?subtle? or ?mindless?: the technology employed to perform regulation does not interfere with an ongoing task. The review goal is 2-fold: establishing the state of the art on such technological implementation in the driving context and identifying complementary technologies relying on subtle regulation that could be applied in driving.Methods: A systematic review was conducted using search operators previously identified through a concept analysis. The patents and scientific studies selected provide an overview of actual and potential mindless technology implementations. These are then analyzed from a scientific perspective. A classification of results was performed according to the different stages of emotion regulation proposed by the Gross model.Results: A total of 47 publications were retrieved, including 21 patents and 26 studies. Six of the studies investigated mindless stress regulation in the driving context. Patents implemented strategies mostly linked to attentional deployment, while studies tended to investigate response modulation strategies.Conclusions: This review allowed us to identify several ADAS relying on mindless computing technologies to reduce stress and better understand the underlying mechanisms allowing stress reduction. Further studies are necessary to better grasp the effect of mindless technologies on driving safety. However, we have established the feasibility of their implementation as ADAS and proposed directions for future research in this field

Effets du stress et de sa régulation sur les processus perceptifs et cognitifs.

EPIQUE 2021, LILLE, FRANCE, 07-/07/2021 - 09/07/2021Les futurs véhicules permettraient l'alternance entre des phases de conduite autonome et des phases de conduite manuelle. Cette transition est cruciale sur le plan attentionnel et repose sur l'utilisation d'alertes. La littérature a montré que des omissions de perceptions d'alertes sonores peuvent être liées à un niveau élevé d'engagement attentionnel dans une tâche annexe. L'objectif de ce travail en cours est d'investiguer les conditions de création du phénomène d'omission, ainsi que l'efficacité d'une contremesure pour réguler ces états (ici un biofeedback temps-réel du rythme cardiaque). Les participants ont réalisé une double tâche consistant en une détection d'alertes sonores et en un jeu mnésique présentant des variations de difficulté et de stress. Des données physiologiques, subjectives et comportementales ont été collectées. Les premiers résultats montrent un impact des conditions sur les trois dimensions. La poursuite de l'analyse des données devrait nous permettre d'étudier sous divers angles les phénomènes attentionnels et les impacts du biofeedback générés lors de l'expérimentation

The impacts of anxiety over driving on self-reported driving avoidance, work performance and quality of life

Aims and background: Anxiety over driving is under-researched in Australia. Studies conducted in New Zealand and France have shown this type of anxiety has negative impacts on mobility, work performance and perceived quality of work as well as perceived quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine these relationships using a sample of drivers in Australia. Methods: A total of 535 people (average age 25 ± 10 years) completed an online questionnaire assessing level of anxiety over driving, worrisome thoughts about driving and avoidance behaviours. Questions regarding quality of life and work were also included. Respondents were classified into three anxiety groups: extremely (13.5%), moderately (55%) or mildly (31.5%) anxious over driving. Results: The three groups significantly differed across all measures. For example, driver anxiety negatively impacted work performance and perceived quality of work life. These negative impacts were significantly higher for the extremely anxious group compared to the moderately or mildly anxious group. The largest reported impact of anxiety overdriving was on perceived quality of life, with all groups reporting the most impact in this area; and with extremely anxious again having the highest scores. Extremely anxious drivers also reported more frequent negative thoughts about driving and avoidance of driving when possible, when compared to those with mild and moderate anxiety. Conclusions: These findings highlight the broader detrimental effects of anxiety over driving that may often be overlooked in driving research

L'intérêt de l'animation comme support au code de la route pour les candidats sourds

Entretiens Jacques Cartier, LYON, FRANCE, 13-/11/2018 - 14/11/2018This article focuses on the interest of using dynamic Highway Code learning materials, particularly for deaf people who present low temporal skills. Twenty-one deaf and 24 hearing candidates of Highway Code were involved in a decision-making task. Four types of driving situations (overtaking, insertion on roundabout, insertion on highway and crossing an intersection) from which participants have to decide to go or not to go were presented in two different formats (static vs animated) and in two level of difficulty (simple vs complex). Results showed better performance in animated than in static condition, especially in deaf candidates. Moreover, benefit of animation is more important in complex situations. With animation, decisions made on dynamic road situations are facilitated because they reflect the spatio-temporal dimensions and can thus help the deaf candidates who have difficulties in this regard. Finally, the animation could help the learning of Highway Code

The quiet passenger: cognitions, avoidance, and onset among people with driving anxiety

Anxiety over driving can have consequences for road safety and individual well-being. This area is under-researched in Australia, despite international research suggesting that most drivers experience some level of anxiety over driving. This study aimed to contribute to the understanding of driving anxiety by 1) confirming the factor structure of two questionnaires designed to understand the concerns (Driving Cognitions Questionnaire: DCQ) and avoidance behaviours (Driving and Riding Avoidance Scale: DRAS); 2) providing evidence of anxiety manifestations in Australian drivers, and 3) understanding whether these differ according to the initial onset of this anxiety. A total of 1,600 people (77% females; age ranging from 18 to 89 [M = 27.92; ± 13.49], 75% licenced, 20% learning, 5% unlicenced) in Australia who identified as having ?some? level of anxiety over driving, completed an online questionnaire regarding their anxiety. Confirmatory Factor Analyses showed the two-factor structure of the DRAS (general and traffic avoidance; and weather and riding avoidance) and the two-factor structure of the DCQ (crash-related concerns and social and panic related concerns) best fit the data. The most common anxiety onsets were crash involvement (14%), knowing someone who had been in a crash (9%) and due to criticism from others (9%). While no differences emerged between these groups on avoidance behaviour nor on crash concerns, social and panic concerns were higher for the criticism onset group. The results demonstrate difference sources of anxiety and provide evidence of the importance of interactions with passengers in determining how a driver feels about the driving task. Practical implicationsAvenues for the reduction or avoidance of anxiety are proposed. These include better awareness and education for drivers regarding the importance of positive interactions and/or well as better journey management to avoid triggers of anxiety