Objective evaluation of stress with the blind by the monitoring of autonomic nervous system activity

Abstract

Accessibility for the blind in an urban space must be studied under real conditions in their daily environment. A new approach for evaluating the impact of environmental conditions on blind pedestrians is the objective measure of stress by the monitoring of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. Original techniques of data analysis and spatial representation are proposed for the detection of the ANS activity through the assessment of the electrodermal activity. Skin resistance was recorded with an EmoSense system on 10 blind subjects who followed a charted course independently. The course was 1065 meters long and consisted of various environmental conditions in an urban space. The spatial frequency of the non-specific skin resistance responses was used to provide a more relevant representation of geographic hotspots. Results of statistical analysis based on this new parameter are discussed to conclude on phenomena causing mental stress with the blind moving in an urban space.

Influence of rubber dam on objective and subjective parameters of stress during dental treatment of children and adolescents – a randomized controlled clinical pilot study

“…The subjective view of the children was supported by the objective biosignals collected during treatment. Breath rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, and skin resistance have been reported to be biosignals related to stress 14–16 .…”

A Review on Mental Stress Detection Using Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning Techniques

“…The Automatic Nervous System (ANS) acts mostly through the sympathetic divisions during stress conditions and parasympathetic divisions during resting conditions. The physiological signals from the effectors of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system such as HR, ST, or Skin Resistance Responses (SRRs) provides the data regarding the cognitive and sensorial state of the subject which can be captured with the help of unobtrusive sensors [4] Recent developments in embedded systems and sensors have led to the development of smart wearable devices that are capable of measuring signals even under natural conditions for the assessment of cognitive and sensorial states.…”

“…A stressful situation for a blind person can be as simple as requiring a decision while walking as to whether to change direction, when to cross a street, and how to avoid a sudden obstacle. Bertrand Massot et al [4] proposed an approach to detect stress induced on blind people because of environmental conditions while walking in an urban space. In such cases, ANS activity is monitored for data collection by using various sensors attached to the body like a sensor for HR, SRR, and ST using an EmoSense device.…”

Alterations in Heart rate Variability in Blind Patients

“…Although the current study has shown that blind patients have a smaller reduction in parasympathetic modulation on the heart during intervention than normal vision subjects submitted to low vision, a sympathetic modulation on heart in blind patients likely enhances. Massot et al (2010) [8] investigated the impact of environmental conditions on 27 blind pedestrians in an urban environment at Lyon (France) and demonstrated the effect of mental stress on visually impaired subjects by measurement the heart rate for HRV analysis, temperature and electrical resistance (conductivity) of the skin. A differentiated activation of sympathetic nervous system was observed in different scenarios depending on they were considered stress "hotspots" due to the requirement of decision on the part of the blind person that can increase the stress levels [8].…”