Wearables Might One Day Detect Our Emotions

In recent years, the wearable technology sector has experienced significant breakthroughs. Today’s smartwatches are equipped to perform various tasks, including ECG and blood pressure monitoring, as well as detecting sleep apnea and monitoring stress levels. In the future, they may even have the capability to assess our emotions.

A team of researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University has released a study focused on the use of skin conductance measurements to identify emotional states. Their research examined how variations in skin conductance response correspond to different emotional experiences.

For the study, participants watched videos designed to evoke strong emotional responses in three primary categories: fear, familial love, and enjoyment. But how does skin conductance relate to emotional states? The connection is rooted in our physiological responses.

The researchers state, “When individuals experience a range of emotions, the electrical characteristics of their skin can change dramatically due to perspiration, with responses occurring within one to three seconds of the triggering stimulus.” To measure these variations, probes were attached to the fingers of subjects.

At the conclusion of the study, it was determined that fear generated the most robust emotional response, while feelings linked to family connections gradually evoked a mix of joy and sadness.

While the experiment had certain limitations, the findings suggested that fluctuations in skin conductance could effectively differentiate between various emotional states. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that human emotions encompass a much broader spectrum than fear, sadness, and enjoyment, leaving unexplored areas for future research. The researchers believe that skin conductance data could aid in making “statistically significant predictions” regarding whether individuals are experiencing fear or the warmth of familial bonds.

Interestingly, skin conductance measurement is not confined to laboratory settings. For instance, devices like the Fitbit Sense smartwatch, as well as the Charge 5 and 6 bands, feature an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor. This sensor measures “electrical changes in the sweat level of your skin,” which reflects the body’s responses to various stressors.

This metric is significant, as alterations in sweat levels impact skin conductance, which is linked to the sympathetic nervous system. Consequently, one’s response to external stimuli can be gauged from such changes in skin properties. In the case of Fitbit, the EDA sensor is particularly sensitive to high-stress levels.

According to the research published in the IEEE Access journal, “Skin conductance serves as an indicator of emotional arousal, showing variations in the electrical properties of the skin due to sweating associated with feelings such as fear, surprise, and joy.”

So, how soon might we see emotional analysis capabilities in smartwatches? That largely depends on device manufacturers who incorporate EDA sensors into their products. However, the researchers behind this study express optimism about future developments.

They stated, “When combined with other signals, we are moving closer to developing devices that can understand our feelings, with the potential for a deeper comprehension of human emotions.” Given that EDA sensors are already present in consumer devices, it seems likely that companies like Apple, Google, or Samsung will explore this concept further in the near future.