engleski

Data Logging system for continuous monitoring of psychophysiological variables

The Data Logging System (DLS) enables a continuous recording in time of four different variables (four channels), it is suitable for continuous recording of psychophysiological variables, such as body temperature, cardiac activity, subjects' activity in simple tasks such as tapping, reaction time etc. The system may be applied in experimental research of mental and physical efforts, effects of various stressors on subjects, psychophysiological changes in signal detection situations etc. DLS is especially convenient for simultaneous multichannel recordings when testing complex concepts in psychophysiology, such as mental work, problem solving, decision making, spare mental capacity, as well as continuous recording of dependent variables such as R-R intervals, body temperature, secondary task parameters etc. This system is also suitable for recording of changes in physical efforts at work or sport activities, as well as the assessment of the motor component in psychomotor and/or perceptual motor tasks. Continuous recording of psychophysiological variables is especially important in circadian and ultradian research, where the interference of internal oscillators and external time cues, causes changes in the state of organism. Body temperature is rather suitable for the use in such a research as one of the indicators of circadian variations in the functional state of the organism. It is, therefore, usually used together with some other variables, such as cardiac output parameters, efficiency measures and others, for assessments of the effects of time of the day on people at work (shift work, for example). Since body temperature may be affected by the environmental temperature, the DLS enables separate recordings of environmental and body temperatures, where by further analyses, the effects of environmental temperature on body temperature may be separated, leaving thus the differential variations in body temperature over the recorded period. Furthermore, since the system has a continuous real time base, it is possible to relate psychophysiological changes to real time, as well as to specific periods of time, which may be relevant for time of the day, minute-to-minute, or similar analyses. By the use of the built in event maker, various events in time, or experimental sessions may be marked. The data logging system has the capacity of continuous recording up to 120 hours, which means up to five days. This makes it a rather unique system of its kind on the market. Excellent physical characteristics of the Data Logging System (size, weight, carrying practicality, etc.) make it very suitable for field investigations of different kinds. The use of the data logging system does not require extra effort or attention from the subject, nor does it require the change of subject’ s daily routine. Due to this it can be used on various groups of people in different situations, such as, working situations, sport and recreational activities, or on pilots during flight, drivers, conductors while conducting, students in exam situations etc. It is important to say that during the most of activities the DLS does not interfere with the activity in any way.

data logging system ; psychophysiological variables

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