Synopsis
Researchers at JNCASR, Bengaluru, have developed a groundbreaking wearable device that detects stress. This neuromorphic device mimics neuron functions, adapting its electrical responses to strain, thereby offering new possibilities for health monitoring.Key Takeaways
- Innovative wearable technology designed to detect stress.
- Utilizes a neuromorphic device that mimics neuron functions.
- Adapts electrical responses based on detected strain.
- Potential to enhance health monitoring systems.
- Could improve robotic systems for safer human interaction.
New Delhi, Jan 15 (NationPress) Researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru, an autonomous establishment under the Department of Science and Technology, have introduced an innovative wearable device designed to detect stress.
The team engineered a Neuromorphic device—electronic systems that replicate the functions of neurons and synapses—utilizing a silver wire network on a flexible substrate.
This device is capable of sensing strain, simulating pain perception, and adjusting its electrical responses accordingly.
According to the researchers, "These pain-like reactions within the device open the door for future intelligent wearable systems that can assist doctors in identifying stress levels."
The team observed that when the material is stretched, small gaps occur within the silver network.
This momentarily disrupts the electrical circuit.
An electric pulse is then applied to reconnect, filling in the gaps and effectively "remembering" the occurrence.
"With each instance of stretching and reconnection, the device incrementally fine-tunes its response, akin to how our bodies adjust to recurring pain over time. This evolving process allows the device to emulate memory and adaptability, drawing humans closer to materials that respond intelligently to their surroundings," the researchers stated in their publication in the journal Materials Horizons, from the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).
The device merges sensing and adaptive response into one flexible unit. It presents a streamlined, effective method for technology to evolve naturally in relation to its environment, without the need for complicated configurations or external sensors.
The research has the potential to lead to more sophisticated health monitoring systems that can "feel" stress similarly to the human body and adapt in real-time, providing feedback to healthcare professionals or users, the researchers concluded.
Excessive stress is recognized as a contributor to numerous physical and mental health issues.
It is a known precursor to various health complications, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes.
Learning effective stress management techniques can help individuals feel less overwhelmed and enhance both mental and physical health.
The team also noted that the technology could enhance robotic systems, making them not only safer but also more intuitive for collaboration with humans.
