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A novel autonomic activation measurement method for stress monitoring: non-contact measurement of heart rate variability using a compact microwave radar

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Abstract

We developed a novel method for non-contact monitoring of stress-induced autonomic activation through the back of a chair, using a compact 24 GHz microwave radar (8 × 5 × 3 cm), without large-scale equipment and placing a heavy burden on the monitored individual. Following a silent period of 120 s, audio stimuli using a composite tone of 2,120 and 2,130 Hz sine-waves at 95 dB were conducted for 120 s. From dorsal, LF/HF of HRV reflecting sympatho-vagal balance was determined by microwave radar with the maximum entropy method using eight volunteers (mean age 23 ± 1 years). Mean LF/HF measured by non-contact and contact (using electrocardiography for reference) methods during audio stimuli increased 34 and 37%, respectively, as compared with those of the silent period. Maximum cross-correlations between contact and non-contact measurements averaged 0.73 ± 0.10. Our method appears to be promising for future monitoring of stress-induced autonomic activation of operators and may reduce stress-induced accidents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management Systems Engineering, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 6-6 Asahigaoka, Hino, Tokyo, 191-0065, Japan

    Satoshi Suzuki, Takemi Matsui, Hayato Imuta, Maki Uenoyama, Hirofumi Yura & Mitsuyuki Kawakami

  2. NeTech, Inc., Sakado 3-2-1, Kanagawa, 213-0012, Japan

    Hirofumi Yura

  3. Division of Biomedical Engineering, National Defense Medical College, Research Institute, Namiki 3-2, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-8513, Japan

    Masayuki Ishihara

Authors
  1. Satoshi Suzuki
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  2. Takemi Matsui
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  3. Hayato Imuta
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  4. Maki Uenoyama
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  5. Hirofumi Yura
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  6. Masayuki Ishihara
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  7. Mitsuyuki Kawakami
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Correspondence to Takemi Matsui.

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Suzuki, S., Matsui, T., Imuta, H. et al. A novel autonomic activation measurement method for stress monitoring: non-contact measurement of heart rate variability using a compact microwave radar. Med Biol Eng Comput 46, 709–714 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-007-0298-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-007-0298-3

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