Autonomic Regulation of Facial Temperature during Stress: A Cross-Mapping Analysis

Skin temperature reflects the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)’s response to emotions and mental states can be remotely measured using InfraRed Thermography. Understanding physiological mechanisms that affect facial is essential improve precision of emotional inference from thermal imaging. To achieve this aim, we recorded images 30 volunteers, at rest under acute stress induced by Stroop test, together with two autonomic correlates, i.e., heart rate variability electrodermal activity, former serving as a measure cardiovascular dynamics, latter activity sweat glands. We used Cross Mapping (CM) approach quantify nonlinear coupling four regions ANS correlates. CM reveals has statistically significant correlation time series, both conditions, which was not evident in linear domain. In particular, compared other regions, nose shows significantly higher link stress. Moreover, seems primarily responsible for well-known decrease temperature, its signals varies gender.