Facial temperature data Sing-a-Song StressTest

Facial temperature data Sing-a-Song StressTest

Brouwer, A.M.

2013

We here introduce a new experimental paradigm to induce mental stress in a quick and easy way while adhering to ethical standards and controlling for potential confounds resulting from sensory input, body movements and behavior of people involved in conducting the experiment. In our Sing-a-Song Stress Test, participants are presented with neutral messages on a screen, interleaved with 1-minute time intervals. The final message is that the participant should sing a song aloud after the interval has elapsed. Participants sit still during the whole procedure. We found that heart rate and skin conductance during the 1-minute intervals following the sing-a-song stress message are substantially higher than during intervals following neutral messages. The order of magnitude of the rises is comparable to that achieved by the Trier Social Stress Test. Skin conductance increase correlates positively with experienced stress level as reported by participants. We also simulated stress detection in real time. When using both skin conductance and heart rate, stress is detected for 18 out of 20 participants, approximately 10s after onset of the sing-a-song message. In conclusion, the Sing-a-Song Stress Test provides a quick, easy, controlled and potent way to induce mental stress and could be helpful in studies ranging from examining physiological effects of mental stress to evaluating interventions to reduce stress.

Human
PCS - Perceptual and Cognitive Systems
BSS - Behavioural and Societal Sciences
Psychology
Healthy Living

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:3eeb835f-aa20-4284-bca4-7c0d8ff00a55

479988

TNO 2013 M11546

TNO, Soesterberg

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