Vest To Measure Stress - muscle tension changes affect stress levels

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Vest To Measure Stress

http://medicalnewscenter.com/out/out.cgi?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080708110517.htm

How stressed are we? A sensor vest will soon be able to tell us. From

sports training to computer games, the garment registers the

electrical excitation of the muscles at any given time and determines

the level of physical stress.

Stressed out? Time to take a break? It will not be long before our

clothing gives us the answer. In the EU's CONTEXT project, companies

and research institutes are developing a comfortable vest that will

read muscle tension and deduce stress levels at any given time. At

the core of the vest is " wearable electronics " . This consists of

sensors woven into the fabric that register the electrical excitation

of the muscle fibers, and thin conducting metallic fibers that pass

the signals to an electronic analysis system.

People's muscle tension changes with their stress level – the greater

the stress, the more likely the muscles are to produce a synchronous

twitching effect. Though this is barely perceptible, the electrodes

register the change. The idea of the sensor vest originated with

biomedical scientists at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium,

who needed an inconspicuous measuring tool for stress studies. Until

then, they had affixed electrodes directly to their test subjects'

chests. But this itself induced stress, with the result that the

tests delivered very little useful information.

The new vest is designed to ensure a more relaxed test environment.

The project members are exploring further potential applications such

as a special vest for computer games. By selectively tensing the

torso muscles, players could use the vest to control figures on the

monitor and for instance burst their heroes' chains and fetters. The

vest could also contribute to safety at the workplace – perhaps

ensuring that workers do not lift loads that are too heavy for them.

And sports coaches could tell from the electronic vest whether

athletes have reached their performance limits or still possess

energy reserves.

" The most important requirement for everyday use is a robust

electronic system, " says Torsten Linz of the Fraunhofer Institute for

Reliability and Microintegration IZM in Berlin, the partner

responsible for the " packaging " .

The entire electronic system has to be resistant to water and

perspiration. The electric conductors must not fray even after

repeated laundry cycles, and the sensors must be no larger than

buttons to ensure that the garment is comfortable. The IZM

researchers have meanwhile developed stable metallic fibers,

watertight connections and durable sensor buttons.

Their task over the next few months will be to integrate the analysis

electronics. The project partners have already demonstrated during

field hockey training that the vest really works; it enabled players

to choose the ideal moment for striking the ball and to hit it much

further than usual.