Transducer

Definition

In physics, a transducer is a device or system which converts one type of energy to another type. In biology, this term can refer to cells or intracellular elements which transform one form of input into another. Both are applicable for behavior medicine. Looking at devices, transducers are found in any machine which measures bodily parameters and depicts them electronically. A device measuring heart rate or pulse can detect changes in light in blood vessels, which reflect amount of blood as a function of one’s heart rate. These changes in light are sensed, for example, by photoresistors, which are then translated to changes in electrical energy (current), which is then translated to digital numbers reflecting the rate of change in heart rate. Such devices are pivotal in medical diagnosis and in psychophysiological research. Another example of a device would be a galvanic skin conductance measure, which detects changes in electrical conductance of the skin, which reflects...