The difference between the BioRICS methodology and other methods
to measure physiological stress
The principle behind the mental state monitoring from BioRICS is that everything a person does,
requires energy. More specifically, energy is needed for the following:
•
Basic Metabolism (i.e. perform the main/basic bodily functions when resting in the bed)
•
Thermoregulation (i.e. keeping the deep body temperature constant)
•
Physical activity (i.e. any body movement that requires metabolic energy)
•
Mental activity (i.e. any brain activity).
Since for most activities, the body performs within the aerobic zone where the main energy controller
of the body is the heart, the heart-rate, in combination with movement and micro-environmental
temperature, have been chosen to continuously estimate the energy production of the body.
Real-time algorithms to monitor the mental component in individuals were developed and finetuned
during scientific research. During the last 10 years, these were validated in several tests on many
subjects. These algorithms adapt in an online way in accordance with the individual and allow for the
detection of changes in the state of the individual user.
It is this mental component that is eventually linked to different mental states. Examples of mental
states are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Concentration/focus on a specific task
Joy/happiness
Anger
Frustration
Mental stress
etc.
One of the main and unique benefits of the BioRICS methodology is its ability to detect in an accurate
way the energy consumption by the body for mental activities whilst the individual is moving. Indeed,
all gold standard methods require EEG monitoring, which latter is still inaccurate for moving subjects
in full activity.
Furthermore, as the monitoring goes in a continuous way, a real-time stress level can be generated at
every moment of the day or night. This results in a daily graph, giving the user an overview of his/her
stress evolution over the day.
1