Thermal infrared imaging in psychophysiology: Potentialities and limits

Abstract

Functional infrared thermal imaging (fITI) is considered an upcoming, promising methodology in the emotional arena. Driven by sympathetic nerves, observations of affective nature derive from muscular activity subcutaneous blood flow as well as perspiration patterns in specific body parts. A review of 23 experimental procedures that employed fITI for investigations of affective nature is provided, along with the adopted experimental protocol and the thermal changes that took place on selected regions of interest in human and nonhuman subjects. Discussion is provided regarding the selection of an appropriate baseline, the autonomic nature of the thermal print, the experimental setup, methodological issues, limitations, and considerations, as well as future directions.

The ENRICHME Project: Lessons Learnt from a First Interaction with the Elderly

“…For participant P2, the temperature for the nose and the tip of the nose remained constant over time and it decreased for the other regions; between 0.01 • C for the eyes and up to 0.5 • C for the mouth region. According to [10] the temperature variation for participant P2 are indicators of mild stress, while for participant P1 the increase of temperature in the forehead region is an indicator of stress. These are some preliminary results.…”

Cutting-edge infrared thermography as a new tool to explore animal emotions

“…。具体的には，交感神経系 が賦活することで生じる皮下血管の収縮や精神性発 汗が主な要因であると考えられている (Ioannou et al, 2014) 。また，顔面の筋運動が皮膚温に影響 を及ぼすとの指摘もある(e.g. Merla & Romani, 2007) 。例えば，多くの研究によって測定対象とさ れている部位の一つに鼻部やその先端部(鼻尖)が あるが (Ioannou et al, 2014) ，この鼻部皮膚温の 変化には，皮下にある動脈と静脈をつなぐ動静脈吻 合(手のひらや足裏，足の指などにもある)が深く 関わっていると考えられている (Ioannou et al, 2014) 。具体的には，情動の生起に伴う自律神経系 の働きによって動静脈吻合が収縮(拡張)すること により，末梢の血流量が減少(増加)することで皮 膚温が低下(上昇)する。ただし，呼吸の変化が鼻 部皮膚温に影響を及ぼす可能性を否定することは難 しく (Nakanishi & Imai-Matsumura, 2008 (Fig.…”

“…Merla & Romani, 2007) 。例えば，多くの研究によって測定対象とさ れている部位の一つに鼻部やその先端部(鼻尖)が あるが (Ioannou et al, 2014) ，この鼻部皮膚温の 変化には，皮下にある動脈と静脈をつなぐ動静脈吻 合(手のひらや足裏，足の指などにもある)が深く 関わっていると考えられている (Ioannou et al, 2014) 。具体的には，情動の生起に伴う自律神経系 の働きによって動静脈吻合が収縮(拡張)すること により，末梢の血流量が減少(増加)することで皮 膚温が低下(上昇)する。ただし，呼吸の変化が鼻 部皮膚温に影響を及ぼす可能性を否定することは難 しく (Nakanishi & Imai-Matsumura, 2008 (Fig. 1B) 1999 Heart rate responses to social interactions in free-moving rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): a pilot study.…”

Instant Stress: Detection of Perceived Mental Stress Through Smartphone Photoplethysmography and Thermal Imaging (Preprint)

“…Another documented cardiovascular event which happens as a reaction to mental stressors is vasoconstriction of blood vessels over a person's nasal peripheral tissues [23,24]. This causes a drop in blood flow, results in a decrease in temperature which can be detected by monitoring the temperature of the nose tip [25].…”