Method And Apparatus For Deriving A Mental State Of A Subject

Abstract

A method (1500) for deriving a mental state of a subject is disclosed. The method comprises receiving (1502) a bio-signal from the subject; calculating respective statistical variations of at least two physiological parameters derived from the bio-signal; determining (1504) an arousal level of the subject based on the calculated statistical variations of the at least two physiological parameters; deriving a time-domain heart rate variability signal from the bio-signal for calculating at least two heart rate variability parameters; determining (1506) a valence level of the subject based on the at least two heart rate variability parameters; and deriving (1508) the mental state from the arousal level and valence level. A related apparatus is also disclosed.

1 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions, which when executed by a processor of a wearable device, cause the processor to provide emotional conditioning, the set of instructions being executable to:
 obtain measurements of physiological parameters related to a first user;   track the first user emotional state by analyzing the measurements of the physiological parameters from the first user over a desired time period;   continuously monitor whether any of the measurements of the physiological parameters of the first user has changed;   generate a set of chart associated with the desired time period that is representative of the measurements of the physiological parameters;   cause the wearable device to send the set of chart to a telecommunication device associated with a second user;   receive, from the second user, an indication of which of the physiological parameters is to be altered by the first user to assist with managing stress.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 1 , wherein the physiological parameters comprises a standard deviation of pulse pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 1 , wherein the indication includes a resting, mental stress test and/or recovery. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of charts having the resting, mental stress test and/or recovery. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 4 , wherein the set of charts further includes a trend displayable on a display unit. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 5 , wherein the set of charts further includes a tracking of data over a time period representative of the first user. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 6 , wherein the tracking of data presented to the first and second user in textual or graphical format. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 1 , wherein the wearable device further includes an audio output module. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 8 , wherein the audio output module providing instructions to the first user a set of breathing instructions reflecting the indication. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 1 , wherein the wearable device and telecommunication device configured to provide audio and visual stimulations to assist the first user to relax. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 10 , wherein the wearable device and telecommunication device configured to generate an alert to the first user for prolonged stress exposure. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 1 , wherein the second user tracking the first user emotion state over a period of time representative of an activity and sleep period. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 12 , wherein the second user reviewing the first user emotion state over the period of time to diagnose and provide an effective treatment. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions according to  claim 13 , wherein the period of time is configurable. 
     
     
         15 . A method of providing emotional conditioning of a subject, comprising:
 obtaining measurements of physiological parameters related to a first user;   tracking the first user emotional state by analyzing the measurements of the physiological parameters from the first user over a desired time period;   continuously monitoring whether any of the measurements of the physiological parameters of the first user has changed;   generating a set of chart associated with the desired time period that is representative of the measurements of the physiological parameters;   causing the wearable device to send the set of chart to a telecommunication device associated with a second user;   receiving, from the second user, an indication of which of the physiological parameters is to be altered by the first user to assist with managing stress.   
     
     
         16 . A method for determining an arousal condition of a subject, the method comprising:
 (i) receiving, using a sensor, a physiological signal from the subject;   (ii) calculating, using a processor, a value of a statistical variation of at least one physiological parameter derived from the physiological signal, the at least one physiological parameter includes pulse pressure; and   (iii) determining, using the processor, whether or not the calculated value of the statistical variation of the at least one physiological parameter lies outside of a threshold value and therefore that the subject is in an arousal condition corresponding to a stress condition,   wherein the value of the calculated statistical variation of the at least one physiological parameter that lies outside of the threshold value is the value of the statistical variation of the at least one physiological parameter that has been determined to correspond to a more than 40% increase in salivary cortisol of the subject.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving the physiological signal, further includes receiving, using the sensor, data related to at least five consecutive cardiac cycles of the physiological signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the data includes time intervals of the at least five cardiac cycle relating to a systolic peak, start time and end time of each cardiac cycle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein calculating, using the processor, the value of the statistical variation of the at least one physiological parameter, further includes calculating the standard deviation of the pulse pressure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein determining, using the processor, whether or not the calculated value of the statistical variation of the at least one physiological parameter lies outside of the threshold value comprises determining if the calculated standard deviation of the pulse pressure is greater than the threshold value, in which the threshold value is within a range of 3.0-12.0 mmHg mercury level.