Hybrid system of emotion evaluation in physiotherapeutic procedures

Nowadays, the dynamic development of technology allows for the design of systems based on various information sources and their integration into hybrid expert systems. One of the areas of research where such systems are especially helpful is emotion analysis. The sympathetic nervous system controls emotions, while its function is directly reflected by the electrodermal activity (EDA) signal. The presented study aimed to develop a tool and propose a physiological data set to complement the psychological data. The study group consisted of 41 students aged from 19 to 26 years. The presented research protocol was based on the acquisition of the electrodermal activity signal using the Empatica E4 device during three exercises performed in a prototype Disc4Spine system and using the psychological research methods. Different methods (hierarchical and non-hierarchical) of subsequent data clustering and optimisation in the context of emotions experienced were analysed. The best results were obtained for the k-means classifier during Exercise 3 (80.49%) and for the combination of the EDA signal with negative emotions (80.48%). A comparison of accuracy of the k-means classification with the independent division made by a psychologist revealed again the best results for negative emotions (78.05%)

Affective State during Physiotherapy and Its Analysis Using Machine Learning Methods

Invasive or uncomfortable procedures especially during healthcare trigger emotions. Technological development of the equipment and systems for monitoring and recording psychophysiological functions enables continuous observation of changes to a situation responding to a situation. The presented study aimed to focus on the analysis of the individual’s affective state. The results reflect the excitation expressed by the subjects’ statements collected with psychological questionnaires. The research group consisted of 49 participants (22 women and 25 men). The measurement protocol included acquiring the electrodermal activity signal, cardiac signals, and accelerometric signals in three axes. Subjective measurements were acquired for affective state using the JAWS questionnaires, for cognitive skills the DST, and for verbal fluency the VFT. The physiological and psychological data were subjected to statistical analysis and then to a machine learning process using different features selection methods (JMI or PCA). The highest accuracy of the kNN classifier was achieved in combination with the JMI method (81.63%) concerning the division complying with the JAWS test results. The classification sensitivity and specificity were 85.71% and 71.43%

Affective State during Physiotherapy and Its Analysis Using Machine Learning Methods

Invasive or uncomfortable procedures especially during healthcare trigger emotions. Technological development of the equipment and systems for monitoring and recording psychophysiological functions enables continuous observation of changes to a situation responding to a situation. The presented study aimed to focus on the analysis of the individual’s affective state. The results reflect the excitation expressed by the subjects’ statements collected with psychological questionnaires. The research group consisted of 49 participants (22 women and 25 men). The measurement protocol included acquiring the electrodermal activity signal, cardiac signals, and accelerometric signals in three axes. Subjective measurements were acquired for affective state using the JAWS questionnaires, for cognitive skills the DST, and for verbal fluency the VFT. The physiological and psychological data were subjected to statistical analysis and then to a machine learning process using different features selection methods (JMI or PCA). The highest accuracy of the kNN classifier was achieved in combination with the JMI method (81.63%) concerning the division complying with the JAWS test results. The classification sensitivity and specificity were 85.71% and 71.43%

Analysis of the relationship between emotion intensity and electrophysiology parameters during a voice examination of opera singers

Objectives Emotions and stress affect voice production. There are only a few reports in the literature on how changes in the autonomic nervous system affect voice production. The aim of this study was to examine emotions and measure stress reactions during a voice examination procedure, particularly changes in the muscles surrounding the larynx. Material and Methods The study material included 50 healthy volunteers (26 voice workers – opera singers, 24 control subjects), all without vocal complaints. All subjects had good voice quality in a perceptual assessment. The research procedure consisted of 4 parts: an ear, nose, and throat (ENT)‑phoniatric examination, surface electromyography, recording physiological indicators (heart rate and skin resistance) using a wearable wristband, and a psychological profile based on questionnaires. Results The results of the study demonstrated that there was a relationship between positive and negative emotions and stress reactions related to the voice examination procedure, as well as to the tone of the vocal tract muscles. There were significant correlations between measures describing the intensity of experienced emotions and vocal tract muscle maximum amplitude of the cricothyroid (CT) and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles during phonation and non-phonation tasks. Subjects experiencing eustress (favorable stress response) had increased amplitude of submandibular and CT at rest and phonation. Subjects with high levels of negative emotions, revealed positive correlations with SCM max during the glissando. The perception of positive and negative emotions caused different responses not only in the vocal tract but also in the vegetative system. Correlations were found between emotions and physiological parameters, most markedly in heart rate variability. A higher incidence of extreme emotions was observed in the professional group. Conclusions The activity of the vocal tract muscles depends on the type and intensity of the emotions and stress reactions. The perception of positive and negative emotions causes different responses in the vegetative system and the vocal tract. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(1):84–9

Ocena stanu fizjologicznego w czasie chodu z pobudzeniami metrorytmicznymi

The study aimed to examine the influence of providing information about reacting to the heard musical stimuli while treadmill walking on physiological signals of participants. The study group consisted of 30 adults: group 1 was not informed how to react, group 2 received an instruction to adjust the frequency of steps to the music. The gait was carried out on a Zebris FDM-S treadmill for various sound stimuli using the Empatica E4 band to acquire electrodermal activity and heart rate. Information about moving to the stimuli did not change how the subjects responded physiologically during the test.Celem badania było sprawdzenie, czy informacje o sposobie reagowania na słyszane bodźce muzyczne podczas chodzenia na bieżni istotnie wpływają na sygnały fizjologiczne uczestników. W badaniu uczestniczyło 30 dorosłych: grupa 1 nie została poinformowana o tym, jak reagować na słyszane dźwięki, grupa 2 otrzymała polecenie dostosowania częstotliwości kroków do muzyki. Chód rejestrowano na bieżni Zebris FDM-S, a do akwizycji sygnałów fizjologicznych wykorzystano opaskę Empatica E4. Informacje o tym, jak reagować na bodźce nie zmieniały sygnałów fizjologicznych u badanych

The Increase of Theta Power and Decrease of Alpha/Theta Ratio as a Manifestation of Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease

In this study, we aim to assess and examine cognitive functions in Parkinson’s Disease patients using EEG recordings, with a central focus on characteristics associated with a cognitive decline. Based on neuropsychological evaluation using Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III, 98 participants were divided into three cognitive groups. All the particpants of the study underwent EEG recordings with spectral analysis. The results revealed an increase in the absolute theta power in patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia (PD-D) compared to cognitively normal status (PD-CogN, p=0.00997) and a decrease in global relative beta power in PD-D compared to PD-CogN (p=0.0413). An increase in theta relative power in the left temporal region (p=0.0262), left occipital region (p=0.0109), and right occipital region (p=0.0221) were observed in PD-D compared to PD-N. The global alpha/theta ratio and global power spectral ratio significantly decreased in PD-D compared to PD-N (p = 0.001). In conclusion, the increase in relative theta power and the decrease in relative beta power are characteristic changes in EEG recordings in PD patients with cognitive impairment. Identifying these changes can be a useful biomarker and a complementary tool in the neuropsychological diagnosis of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s Disease