Correlation Analysis of Different Measurement Places of Galvanic Skin Response in Test Groups Facing Pleasant and Unpleasant Stimuli.

The galvanic skin response (GSR; also widely known as electrodermal activity (EDA)) is a signal for stress-related studies. Given the sparsity of studies related to the GSR and the variety of devices, this study was conducted at the Human Health Activity Laboratory (H2AL) with 17 healthy subjects to determine the variability in the detection of changes in the galvanic skin response among a test group with heterogeneous respondents facing pleasant and unpleasant stimuli, correlating the GSR biosignals measured from different body sites. We experimented with the right and left wrist, left fingers, the inner side of the right foot using Shimmer3GSR and Empatica E4 sensors. The results indicated the most promising homogeneous places for measuring the GSR, namely, the left fingers and right foot. The results also suggested that due to a significantly strong correlation among the inner side of the right foot and the left fingers, as well as the moderate correlations with the right and left wrists, the foot may be a suitable place to homogenously measure a GSR signal in a test group. We also discuss some possible causes of weak and negative correlations from anomalies detected in the raw data possibly related to the sensors or the test group, which may be considered to develop robust emotion detection systems based on GRS biosignals.

Academic stress detection on university students during COVID-19 outbreak by using an electronic nose and the galvanic skin response.

Academic stress is an emotion that students experience during their time at the university, sometimes causing physical and mental health effects. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, universities worldwide have left the classroom to provide the method of teaching virtually, generating challenges, adaptations, and more stress in students. In this pilot study, a methodology for academic stress detection in engineering students at the University of Pamplona (Colombia) is proposed by developing and implementing an artificial electronic nose system and the galvanic skin response. For the study, the student's stress state and characteristics were taken into account to make the data analysis where a set of measurements were acquired when the students were presenting a virtual exam. Likewise, for the non-stress state, a set of measurements were obtained in a relaxation state after the exam date. To carry out the pre-processing and data processing from the measurements obtained previously by both systems, a set of algorithms developed in Python software were used to perform the data analysis. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), K-Nearest Neighbors (K-NN), and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification methods were applied for the data classification, where a 96 % success rate of classification was obtained with the E-nose, and 100 % classification was achieved by using the Galvanic Skin Response.

A Multisensor Data Fusion Approach for Predicting Consumer Acceptance of Food Products.

Sensory experiences play an important role in consumer response, purchase decision, and fidelity towards food products. Consumer studies when launching new food products must incorporate physiological response assessment to be more precise and, thus, increase their chances of success in the market. This paper introduces a novel sensory analysis system that incorporates facial emotion recognition (FER), galvanic skin response (GSR), and cardiac pulse to determine consumer acceptance of food samples. Taste and smell experiments were conducted with 120 participants recording facial images, biometric signals, and reported liking when trying a set of pleasant and unpleasant flavors and odors. Data fusion and analysis by machine learning models allow predicting the acceptance elicited by the samples. Results confirm that FER alone is not sufficient to determine consumers' acceptance. However, when combined with GSR and, to a lesser extent, with pulse signals, acceptance prediction can be improved. This research targets predicting consumer's acceptance without the continuous use of liking scores. In addition, the findings of this work may be used to explore the relationships between facial expressions and physiological reactions for non-rational decision-making when interacting with new food products.

Galvano-puncture and dermabrasion for striae distensae: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of galvano-puncture (GG) and dermabrasion (DG) in reducing striae distensae in the gluteal region of women. METHODS: This randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial was conducted at the UNIFAL-MG. Participants were 48 female who had striae distensae alba in the gluteal region. They were randomly divided in GG; DG; and Control Group (CG). The length and width of the largest striae were measured (in millimeters) using a caliper. The same striae were assessed before and after treatment. Infrared thermography was performed in the gluteal region to assess local microcirculation. RESULTS: Intragroup analysis showed a significant reduction in the dimension of the striae between baseline and treatment session 10 in the GG and DG groups. Between-group analysis revealed a reduction in the width and length of the striae for both the GG and DG groups, but there were no significant differences between the two groups. When compared to the CG and the DG group, the GG group had significant improvements, as shown by thermography. CONCLUSION: Both GG and DG are effective in reducing striae length and width. However, only the thermography results showed significant differences between GG and control, and between GG and DG.

Physiological methods as indexes of listening effort measurement: an integrative literature review / Métodos fisiológicos como índices de mensuração do esforço auditivo: uma revisão integrativa da literatura

ABSTRACT Purpose: to review the scientific literature and present existing instruments and methods for the objective assessment of the listening effort in normal hearing individuals worldwide. Methods: a literature integrative review whose purpose was to gather and summarize the scientific knowledge regarding the objective methods theme for measuring the listening effort, developed through the search of articles in specialized national and international journals, in the English and Portuguese languages, available in the databases: PUBMED, Cochrane Library, LILACS and SCIELO. Results: 18 articles which used physiological methods to measure the listening effort in individuals with normal hearing were reviewed. The main findings described in those articles refer to the author(s) and purpose(s) of the research, country where the research was conducted, casuistry, physiological method used and results. Conclusion: there is no consensus among the researchers about the best physiological method to measure this parameter, that is, this effort in the speech perception tasks, although the level of skin conductance is considered the most accurate measure to date.

RESUMO Objetivo: revisar a literatura científica e apresentar os instrumentos e métodos existentes para a avaliação objetiva do esforço auditivo em indivíduos normo-ouvintes no cenário mundial. Métodos: esta foi uma revisão integrativa de literatura cujo intuito foi reunir e resumir o conhecimento científico a respeito da temática métodos objetivos para mensuração do esforço auditivo, desenvolvida por meio da busca de artigos em periódicos especializados, nacionais e internacionais, nos idiomas inglês e português, disponíveis nas bases de dados: PUBMED, Biblioteca Cochrane, LILACS e SCIELO. Resultados: foram revisados 18 artigos nos quais os métodos fisiológicos foram empregados para mensurar o esforço auditivo em indivíduos normo-ouvintes. Os principais achados dos artigos revisados se referem aos autore(s) e objetivo(s) da pesquisa, país onde a pesquisa foi conduzida, casuística, método fisiológico empregado e, resultados. Conclusão: não existe consenso entre os pesquisadores quanto ao melhor método fisiológico para mensurar este parâmetro, ou seja, este esforço nas tarefas de percepção de fala, embora o nível de condutância da pele tenha sido considerado a medida mais precisa até o momento.

Um Programa de Intervenção para Transtorno de Ansiedade Social com o Uso da Realidade Virtual / Un Programa de Intervención para la Trastorno de Ansiedad Social con el Uso de la Realidad Virtual / A Treatment Program for Social Anxiety Disorder by Using Virtual Reality

Resumo A Realidade Virtual (RV) foi utilizada nesse estudo como recurso terapêutico em uma intervenção analítico-comportamental para dois participantes com transtorno de ansiedade social. Os objetivos foram avaliar os efeitos terapêuticos do programa de intervenção e o simulador quanto à capacidade de gerar senso de presença e respostas de ansiedade. O programa consistiu em: (a) sessão inicial, (b) linha de base, (c) intervenção com exposição à RV, (d) encerramento e (e) follow up (1 e 3 meses após a intervenção). O senso de presença, ansiedade e respostas galvânicas da pele foram registrados em cada sessão com exposição e inventários de ansiedade, depressão e fobia social ao término de cada fase. Foram formuladas análises funcionais baseadas na ocorrência de comportamentos apresentados em contexto social no intervalo entre as sessões. O simulador produziu ansiedade e níveis elevados de presença ao longo das exposições; e ambos participantes apresentaram redução dos níveis de ansiedade ao fim do programa e generalização para o contexto natural. Conclui-se que a intervenção com exposição à RV apresentou efeito terapêutico e promoveu repertório de enfrentamento frente a situações de interação social.

Resumen La realidad virtual (RV) fue empleada en este estudio como herramienta terapéutica en un programa de intervención analítico-conductual para dos participantes con trastorno de ansiedad social. Los objetivos fueron evaluar los efectos terapéuticos del programa de intervención y el simulador en cuanto a la capacidad de generar presencia y respuestas de ansiedades. El programa consistió en: (a) sesión inicial, (b) línea base, (c) intervención con exposición a la RV, (d) finalización y (e) seguimiento (1 y 3 meses después de la intervención). La sensación de presencia, ansiedad y la respuesta galvánica de la pele fueron registrados en cada sesión con exposición y inventario de la ansiedad, depresión y fobia social al final de cada fase. Análisis funcionales fueron formulados en base a la ocurrencia de las conductas de interacción social en el intervalo entre las sesiones. El simulador produce ansiedad y niveles elevados de presencia a lo largo de las exposiciones y ambos participantes presentaron reducción de los niveles de ansiedad al final de lo programa, con generalización de los resultados para un contexto natural. Se concluye que la intervención analítico-conductual con la exposición a la RV tuvo efecto terapéutico y aprendieron un repertorio de afrontamiento de esas situaciones.

Abstract Virtual Reality (VR) was used in this study as a therapeutic tool in a behavior-analytic intervention with two subjects who had social anxiety disorder. The goals were to assess the therapeutic effects of the intervention program and the VR simulator with regard to the ability to generate sense of presence and anxiety responses. The program consisted of: (a) initial session, (b) baseline, (c) intervention sessions with exposure to VR, (d) closing session, (e) follow up (up to one and three months after treatment). Sense of presence, anxiety and galvanic skin response were reported in each exposure therapy session and anxiety, depression and social phobia inventories were reported at the end of each stage. Functional analyses were formulated based on behaviors occurring in social contexts between sessions. The simulator produced anxiety and high levels of presence during exposure; and both participants had reduced levels of anxiety at the end of intervention and generalization to the natural context. In conclusion, behavior-analytic intervention with exposure to VR was effective and fostered a repertoire for coping with situations of social interaction.

EEG and autonomic responses during performance of matching and non-matching to sample working memory tasks with emotional content.

Working memory (WM) is a memory system responsible for the temporary storage of information and its utilization in problem solving. The central executive is theorized as the controller of storage functions that support WM. Neurophysiological data suggest that electroencephalographic (EEG) theta and alpha oscillations in frontal and midline regions are involved in neural communication between the central executive and storage functions during WM performance. Emotion is known to modulate several memory systems, including WM, through central and peripheral pathways. However, the physiological effect (EEG; autonomic nervous activity) of emotion over WM are not well described. In this study we aimed to identify physiological responses related to emotional WM performance. EEG (21 channels), heart rate (HR), and galvanic skin response (GSR) recordings were obtained from 54 volunteers while performing delayed matching and non-matching to sample tasks (DMTS/DNMTS). Emotional and neutral pictures from the International Affective Picture System and geometric figures were used as stimuli. As expected, WM performance was accompanied by presence of theta (frontal and midline electrodes) and alpha power (parietal electrodes). Beta and gamma oscillations were concentrated in frontopolar and left temporal regions. The DNMTS task was accompanied by higher increases in beta power, HR, and GSR compared to the DMTS task. Correlation analyses showed a positive tendency for gamma in the Fp2 site, ratio of LF/HF and skin conductance in both tasks. The HR results indicate an inverse reaction related to parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system during the performance of the tasks. Taken together, our results contribute to elucidate the complex interactions between central and autonomic nervous systems in the modulation of emotional WM tasks.

Biofeedback e resistência galvânica da pele: medidas em pacientes com síndrome do intestino irritável e em indivíduos saudáveis / Biofeedback and galvanic resistance of the skin: measures in patientswith irritable bowel syndrome and in healthy individuals

OBJETIVO:Avaliar e comparar a intensidade da resistência galvânica da pele (resposta autonômica) entre pacientes portadores da síndrome do intestino irritável e indivíduos saudáveis. MÉTODOS: Os participantes deste estudo formaram dois grupos distintos, um experimentale outro controle, compostos de 16 pessoas cada um. A coleta de dados foi feitaindividualmente em dez medidas distintas, realizadas semanalmente com autilização do medidor galvânico de resistência da pele (aparelho de biofeedback). A duração das medidas foi de três minutos, tendo sido registradas em forma de gráficos específicos. RESULTADOS: Os resultados foram analisados comparando-se todas as medidas intra eintergrupos nos diversos momentos. Os dados deste estudo demonstraram que um dos componentes regulados pelo sistema nervoso autônomo - a resistência galvânica da pele - não está prejudicado nos pacientes com síndrome do intestino irritável em comparação aos pacientes saudáveis. CONCLUSÃO: Sugere-se que novas pesquisas sejam realizadas com maior número de pacientes e com uma avaliação mais abrangente das respostas autonômicas somatoformes, auxiliando a compreensão da etiologia dessa enfermidade.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates and compares the intensity of the galvanic resistance of theskin (autonomic reply) of patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and healthyindividuals. METHODS: The participants of this study were divided into two distinct groups, oneexperimental and another control, with 16 people in each. Data collection occurredindividually in 10 distinct measures, performed weekly with the use of the galvanicmeasurer of resistance of the skin (Device of Biofeedback). Measurements took 3minutes and were recorded in the form of graphs. RESULTS: The results were analyzed by comparing all the intra and intergroup measurements in the different moments. Data of this study show that one of the components regulated by the autonomous nervous system - galvanic resistance of the skin - isnot compromised in patients with irritable bowel syndrome when compared withhealthy individuals. CONCLUSION: We suggest that more research is done with a higher number of patients and a broader evaluation of the somatoform autonomic responses, in order to improvethe understanding of the etiology of this disease.

Condicionamiento clásico y cognición implícita / Classical conditioning and implicit cognition

En su conjunto, las evidencias experimentales conductuales y psicobiológicas revisadas en este artículo muestran que el condicionamiento clásico humano tiene una justificación evolutiva, se desarrolla mediante un procesamiento cognitivo diferente del procesamiento consciente y se sustenta en estructuras cerebrales diferentes. Dichas estructuras no suelen funcionar desligadas y por ello la combinación de ambas formas de procesamiento, explícito e implícito, es el patrón general en condiciones naturales. De hecho, debido a la organización jerárquica del sistema nervioso, suele existir un proceso de control de arriba hacia abajo (cortical-subcortical) pero, bajo condiciones especiales de laboratorio, puede hacerse evidente en la conducta, por ejemplo mediante los paradigmas de miedo condicionado, la estrecha relación entre procesamiento implícito y el condicionamiento clásico en nuestra especie.

Experimental data, behavioral and psychobiological, reviewed in this paper show that human classical conditioning has an evolutionary purpose, it is developed by means of a cognitive processing different from the conscious processing, and sustained by different cerebral structures. These structures usually do not work isolated. For that reason, combination of both forms of processing, explicit/implicit, is the general pattern in natural conditions. In fact, due to the hierarchical organization of the nervous system, usually it exists a top-down control process (cortical-subcortical) but, under special conditions of laboratory, can be behaviorally evident, for example by means of the fear conditioning, close relationship between implicit processing and Pavlovian conditioning in humans.