Implementation of Microsensor Interface for Biomonitoring of Human Cognitive Processes

Miniaturization of biomedical sensors has increased the importance of microsystem technology in medical applications, particularly microelectronics and micromachining. This work presents a new approach to biomedical monitoring and analysis of selected human cognitive processes. The system is based on our preliminary described theory and experiments (Vavrinsky et al. 2010). We are primarily interested in biomonitoring of human cognitive processes and psychophysiological conditions of car drivers in order to enhance road safety. Actually often used method is evaluation of abnormal car driver actions (sudden changes of direction with no direction indicators or too hard cornering). Main disadvantage of such a system is that they offer no prediction. More effective are prediction systems, which offer enough reaction time before undesirable situations, and so they can minimize human error factors and improve road-traffic safety. Our present research is focused on sensing, processing and analysis of selected physiological signals for mental and medical condition recognition. They are known some studies describing interface between emotional condition and physiological responses, and we want also present some, since new ideas and research in psychological recognition and biomonitoring are very welcome. It is also proved that human decisions and reactions are affected by emotional and physical comfort. Emotional reconnoiter of a car driver conditions is influenced by many cognitive processes, such as mind organization, vigilance, planning or fatigue. Nervous and angry people can be very dangerous for traffic road safety. In our experiments, we have monitored: psycho-galvanic reflex (PGR) – skin conductivity changes, heart rate + electrocardiogram (ECG), body temperature, respiration frequency, emotions. To improve the reliability of our measurements, these parameters have been monitored often by duplicate methods, sometimes at macro level, sometimes by local microsystems technologies. In first step, we implemented our technology to the virtual reality driving simulator but preparations for real implementation have been already started, and the final car implementation will follow.