Obimon: An open‐source device enabling group measurement of electrodermal activity

• Published in: Psychophysiology Vol. 56; no. 8; pp. e13374 - n/a
• Main Authors: Kasos, Krisztian, Zimonyi, Szabolcs, Gonye, Bianka, Köteles, Ferenc, Kasos, Eniko, Kotyuk, Eszter, Varga, Katalin, Veres, Andras, Szekely, Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2019
• Subjects: Arousal; electrodermal; group measurement; skin conductance; Sympathetic nervous system; wireless; electrodermal; wireless; skin conductance; group measurement; arousal
• ISSN: 0048-5772; 1469-8986; 1540-5958
• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13374

Electrodermal activity (EDA) provides the means to gauge the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Assessment of EDA for research purposes requires measurement systems that are sensitive to small changes in arousal in the full measurement range, collecting, storing, and monitoring data. The objective behind designing a new open‐source device was to be able to measure EDA simultaneously on many subjects, monitoring their activity in real time remotely and collecting high precision data suitable for analyses. To assure feasibility of simultaneous measurements on multiple subjects, the devices must be compact and wearable, without compromising data quality. Experiments were carried out using synchronized devices in group and single subject environments. Validity of EDA measurements of Obimon was demonstrated compared to a reference system (Nexus) during a breathing exercise, a short movie, and while exposed to loud computer‐generated tones, using Pearson correlation, Passing‐Bablok regression, and Bland‐Altman analysis. Seamless management of several Obimons and real‐time visualization of EDA via Android phone/tablet application from a large number of participants was demonstrated. Based on analyses of the data collected, we conclude that the Obimon device presented here is a valid and feasible tool for collecting EDA in single or multisubject environments. Electrodermal activity is an efficient measure of arousal, used in a variety of studies related to psychology. Measuring simultaneously in a group setting is sporadic in the literature, since devices providing precision data sufficient for research purposes are high cost, and time synchronicity of measurement from multiple devices is challenging. To assure feasibility of simultaneous measurements on multiple subjects, devices should be compact and wearable, without compromising data quality. Through a series of experiments, we demonstrate feasibility of Obimon, a new, wireless open‐source device, collecting, storing, and monitoring data, sensitive to small changes in arousal in the full measurement range.