Showing posts with label Accelerometers. Show all posts
Wireless | Emotion Processing in Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia has long been known to be a very complicated and poorly understood cognitive disorder. To attempt to understand the differences in emotional processing in schizophrenic patients, psychologists use physiological parameters to quantify psychological activity. Researchers Peterman et al. performed a study in which Galvanic Skin Response (GSR or EDA) and Facial Electromyography (fEMG) were recorded in schizophrenic and control subjects in response to social stimuli to assess the differences in adaptive emotional response. To measure these signals, they used wireless BIOPAC BioNomadix amplifiers, one for GSR (BN-PPGED) and two for fEMG (BN-EMG2). The participants were asked to view a block of images of the same category (e.g., social positive, non-social negative, etc.), then select a positivity response (valence rating) as to how they felt about the images. Subjects viewed several blocks of images to evoke differing responses. The self-reported valence ratings were paired to physiological data acquired with wireless BioNomadix transmitters. The GSR and fEMG were collected with an MP150 data acquisition system, and the data was analyzed with AcqKnowledge software. Researchers found that the Schizophrenic subjects responded similarly to the controls in the valence ratings, but their GSR and fEMG data diverged significantly. The Schizophrenic subjects showed a stronger overall GSR response to the images; however they did not show an effect by the sociality of the pictures. The fEMG response was also greater overall in the Schizophrenic group, but also did not vary by sociality. The results provide physiological background to the disrupted self-awareness of emotion processing in Schizophrenics. The complexity of emotion processing in cognitive disorders continues to elude us and to pave new avenues for scientific study. Along with the BioNomadix modules used in the study, BIOPAC Systems offers several wireless, wearable physiological data acquisition and analysis systems for psychophysiological research.
ECG Analysis of Putting Tournament
An electrocardiogram (ECG; a.k.a.
EKG) recording can be extremely useful for analysis of a variety of
physiological studies. When combined with automated ECG analysis software,
researchers can identify ECG intervals, assess heart rate variability (HRV),
classify heart beats, and much more. ECG analysis results can be used with other
parameters to perform a complete physiological examination. Analyzing changes in ECG rhythms can provide
valuable insight into stress, arousal, and exercise research. A wide
range of physiological studies incorporate ECG results, such as a recent one
performed measuring cognitive workloads of participants during a competitive
golf putting tournament. The researchers set about to compare whether kinematic
or psychological factors were more important for participant’s putting
performance. Since putting requires more delicacy and precision on the part of
the golfer, they hypothesized that psychological factors would be just as
important --if not more-- than kinematic factors. The participants were divided
into three groups, arranged by skill level, and given the CSAI-2 test, an exam
that scored the participants’ self-confidence in the competitive environment.
The groups then performed in 8 tournaments of putting 2.1m from the hole. The
researchers used a BIOPAC ECG module to record and analyze heart rate and HRV,
which they ranked as either high or low. They found that the winners of the
tournament had a lower HRV frequency, which was associated with a lower mental
workload. There were also big differences in self-confidence scores on the
CSAI-2 between the winners and losers of the groups (specifically of the highest
skill level group). The results indicate that participants with lower mental
stress performed better, meaning that psychological factors are important to
putting ability. Although more research needs to be done, the results seem to
indicate that psychological factors seem to be more important to a golfer’s
short game.
Data Acquisition Software | Accelerometers
What Are Accelerometers?
Accelerometers are widely used for measuring
vibration in rotating machinery, moving vehicles, aircraft, in
structures. In this case, they are used for measuring small muscle
vibrations in the body.
New types of accelerometers and integrated sensor
systems are now replacing more traditional vibration sensors for a number
of reasons such as lower cost, better performance, rugged design, and smaller
size. The new devices offer increased sensitivity, a wider range of
operating frequencies, and much wider range of application in industry.
How do Accelerometers work?
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| BIOPAC Accelerometer 50 G -TSD109F |
Accelerometers work in many different ways. Some
accelerometers use the piezoelectric effect - containing microscopic crystal
structures that get stressed by accelerative forces, causing a voltage to be
generated. Another is by sensing changes in capacitance. If you have two
microstructures next to each other, they have a certain capacitance between
them. If an accelerative force moves one of the structures, the capacitance
will change. Add circuitry to convert from capacitance to voltage, and you get
an accelerometer. There are many other methods, including use of the
piezo-resistive effect and light.
What should I consider when choosing the right
accelerometer:
-Reproducibility of results
You don't just want great results, you want
results that are as accurate and reproducible as possible.
-Sensitivity - Generally
speaking, the more sensitivity the better. This means that for a given change
in acceleration, there will be a larger change in signal. Since larger signal
changes are easier to measure, you will get more accurate readings.
BIOPAC's TSD250
The TSD250 is a sensitive accelerometer for
use with BIOPAC
Vibromyography Systems that use advanced
signal analysis algorithms to monitor muscle vibration.
Accelerometers are secured over the muscle
belly and record the small vibrations that occur when the muscle is
activated. The technique allows researchers to study muscle performance and
strength balance.
VMG provides extremely reproducible results. The
single sensor solution and the lack of skin preparation improve the reliability
and reproducibility of muscle effort recordings between muscles and across
subjects.
Learn More About TSD250 Data Acquisition Software
If you are interested in learning more about
gaining access to the best data acquisition software in the industry, please
check out BIOPAC's Vibromyography Transducer TSD250. (http://www.biopac.com/VMG-transducer)
BIOPAC is dedicated to developing innovative,
high quality and competitively priced life sciences educational and research hardware and
software designed to meet customers’ needs.