Procedure 1, Respiration Set Up
The Respiratory Belt was connected into Input 1 on the front panel of the PowerLab. The Belt was then attached around the volunteer’s abdomen where breathing change was most apparent with the writing on the belt facing outward. After turning the PowerLab on the volunteer was instructed to sit relaxed facing away from the monitor. On the PowerLab program input amplifier for the respiratory belt was selected in the channel function pop-up menu. The volunteer was instructed to take a deep, strong breath. The signal was observed and adjusted into the range of the dialogue box for calibration. The start button for recording was pressed and the subject was asked to breathe rapidly for 5 seconds and then slowly for 5 seconds to ensure that the rate was properly displayed. The subjects were instructed to breathe normally through their baseline and we talked to them so they wouldn’t be thinking about their breathing so we could collect a typical baseline. After the experiment the respiratory rate was found by looking at the cyclic measurements and finding breaths per minute.
Procedure 2, Blood Volume Pulse Set Up
The Finger Pulse Transducer was connected to input two on the front panel of the PowerLab. The pressure pad of the Finger Pulse Transducer was then placed on the tip of the subjects non-dominant middle finger and held firmly in place with a velcro strap without cutting off circulation. The subject was then instructed to lay their hand on the table with their palm facing up and requested to not move their hand as much as possible. After the PowerLab was turned on the volunteer was instructed to face away from the monitor. Input Amplifier from the Finger Pulse Transducer Channel Function pop-up menu was selected and the signal was observed. The range in the dialogue was adjusted to enable proper viewing of the signal. The signal was analyzed by looking at the beats per minute over the entire thing compared to their baseline. Each individual level was observed as well for heart rate.
Procedure 3, Skin Conductivity Set Up
The GSR Amplifier was connected to the PowerLab with the I2 C cable. Then the BNC cable was connected to the signal output on the GSR Amplifier and then was connected to input three on the PowerLab. The finger electrodes were then connected to the GSR Amplifier. After the PowerLab was turned on and LabChart was opened the circuit zeroing was performed while the electrodes were connected to the non-dominant hands second and fourth finger of the test subjects. Subjects were instructed to let their non-dominant hand rest palm up. The skin conductivity throughout the experiment was constantly compared to the baseline. If there was an increase then it indicated that a stress response was present.
Procedure 4, Electromyography (EMG) Set Up
The 5 Lead Shield Bio Amp Cable was connected to Bio Amp Connector on the front panel of the Powerlab. The hardware was connected prior to opening the settings file. The volunteer’s skin was abraded with abrasive gel. After abrasion, the area was cleaned to remove dead skin cells using a alcohol pad. A ballpoint pen was then used to mark four small crosses about 2-3 inches apart on the skin above the shin and the calf muscle. Once the skin was dry the disposable electrodes were connected to the skin at the points mentioned. The Shielded Lead Wires were connected to the Bio Amp Cable and then the electrodes were connected to the wires. The color scheme on the Bio Amp Cable was followed. The green Earth lead was attached to the Dry Earth Strap.. The four electrodes and Dry Earth Strap were then attached to the volunteer. Channel 1 leads to the top of the shin a couple inches below the knee, channel 2 leads to the shin approximately 3 inches below the first. Then channel 3 was connected at the same height as channel 1 but on the calf muscle, channel 4 leads to the calf approximately 3 inches below channel 3. The Earth was connected to the Dry Earth Strap and placed around the ankle. The EMG was used to measure the movement of the leg and the tension placed there by stress. When stressed many people move muscles in their body to help relieve tension and that is what we are measuring through this experiment. The amount of tension throughout the experiment was compared to the baseline and the difference is what was analyzed.
Results
Effect of Stress on Heart Rate (Pulse)
The completion of the experimentation and analysis showed that the largest heart rate change in relation to the individual was 12% from baseline for subject 5. Subjects 1, 4, and 7 all had a 2% heart rate change from their baseline which was the lowest recorded change in all the subjects. Art & Science subjects showed the largest average of percent change at 6%. The lowest average change was 2%, observed in Business subjects. Engineer subjects were closer to art & science at 5% change.
Effect of Stress on EMG
Results from the EMG data show that engineering students had the lowest average change in EMG activity at a 7% change. Business students had the next lowest percent change at 10%, while arts and science students showed a 40% increase from their baseline to their testing measures. Subjects 4, 6, and 8 all showed a 3% change, the lowest change seen, while subject 5 showed a 92% change.
Effect of Stress on Skin Conductivity
The largest percent change of data collected was recorded during the electromyograph. Business subjects were shown to have an average of 502%, the highest of the disciplines. Within that group, subject 7 showed a change of 1003%. The highest individual change was of an engineer subject, subject 8, with a change of 1098% from baseline. This subjected noted at the start of the experiment that they have a hyper- sweat condition diagnosed by their physician. The engineer average change was 424%. Art & Science subjects had the lowest average change of 96%. out of all the subjects a business subject, subject 7, and a change of 1%.
Effect of Stress on Respiration
Analysis of this data showed that engineers had the lowest change in respiratory rate from their baseline at 15%. Arts and science students showed the largest percent change with a 37% increase in their respiratory rate, while business students averaged a 27% change. The lowest change was 2% increase seen in subject 1, an engineering student, whereas the highest change was 76% seen in subject 5, an arts and sciences student.
Kami 2 Gaming Performance
Out of the subjects one engineering subject, subject 1, made it to level 6 to attempt it. Due to time constraints, they had 17 seconds to solve the puzzle and did not succeed. Level 6 is the highest level achieved and was only done so once. Subjects 3,4 and 8 made it to level 5 with sufficient time to attempt the levels multiple times. Subjects 3 and 4 were both of the art & science group and subject 8 was an engineer. Subject 6 and 7 were both business subjects and both reach level 4. Subject 6 did not have a sufficient amount of time to solve the puzzle in correlation to the average and the fastest time of those that did move on to level 5. The average time to complete level 4 was 78.4 seconds and the fastest time was 65 seconds. Subjects 2 and 5 did not complete level 3 however, they did have sufficient time to complete the level. Art and Science subjects had the fastest average on level 1 with 13.3 seconds followed by engineers with 19 seconds and business subjects with 19.5 seconds. Engineers and the fastest times on levels 2,3 and 4 with business students being the slowest at 2 and 3 and not completing 4. Engineers also had the longest time on question 5 with an average of 608 seconds in comparison to the art and science average of 536.5 seconds. Business subjects ran out of moves or reset levels 1, 2 and 3 the most. Level 4 had the same average reset and out of turns by the business subject and the art and science subjects. Engineers had 1 more average reset than art and science subjects on level 5.