A State-Space Approach for Detecting Stress from Electrodermal Activity

Dilranjan S. Wickramasuriya, Chaoxian Qi, Rose T. Faghih

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The human body responds to neurocognitive stress in multiple ways through its autonomic nervous system. Increases in heart rate, salivary cortisol and skin conductance level are often observed accompanying high levels of stress. Stress can also take on different forms including emotional, cognitive and motivational. While a precise definition for stress is lacking, a pertinent issue is to quantify the state of psychological stress manifested in the nervous system. State-space models have previously been applied to estimate an unobserved neural state (e.g. learning, consciousness) from physiological signal measurements and data collected during behavioral experiments. In this paper, we relate stress to the probability that a phasic driver impulse occurs in skin conductance signals. We apply state-space modeling to extracted binary measures to continuously track a stress level across episodes of cognitive and emotional stress as well as relaxation. Results demonstrate a promising approach for tracking stress through wearable devices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication40th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2018
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages3562-3567
Number of pages6
Volume2018
ISBN (Electronic)9781538636466
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 26 2018
Event40th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2018 - Honolulu, United States
Duration: Jul 18 2018Jul 21 2018

Publication series

NameAnnual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference
ISSN (Print)2375-7477

Other

Other40th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBC 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityHonolulu
Period7/18/187/21/18

Keywords

  • Autonomic Nervous System
  • Galvanic Skin Response
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Stress, Psychological

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Signal Processing
  • Health Informatics
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Biomedical Engineering

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