Study Overview
| Authors | Wiltshire C.N., Wanna C.P., Stenson A.F., Minton S.T., Reda M.H., Davie W.M., Hinrichs R., Winters S., France J.M., Jovanovic T. |
| Institution | Wayne State University, Detroit / Emory University Atlanta, USA |
| Journal | Behaviour Research and Therapy |
| Year | 2022 |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104036 |
| PubMed | PMC8887191 |
| Product | eSense Skin Response |
| Participants | 56 children (mean age 9.1 years) |
| Funding | NIH / National Institute of Mental Health |
What was investigated?
Researchers at Wayne State University and Emory University investigated for the first time systematically whether skin conductance measurements using mobile consumer technology can capture physiological responses to trauma-related interviews in children. The central question was: Do children with more trauma experiences or stronger PTSD symptoms show measurably different skin conductance patterns — and can an affordable mobile device reliably capture these differences in community-based settings?
Methods
56 children with a mean age of 9.1 years participated in the NIH-funded cross-sectional study, recruited in the Detroit, Michigan area. The sample was demographically diverse (76.8% Black, 14.3% White). Trauma exposure was assessed using the TESI-C (Traumatic Events Screening Inventory) in a semi-structured interview with 24 questions about lifetime trauma history. PTSD symptoms were measured with the UCLA PTSD Reaction Index, with particular focus on hyperarousal symptoms. Each child underwent a single session with a resting phase and continuous measurement throughout the entire trauma interview.
Mindfield Product in this Study
The eSense Skin Response by Mindfield Biosystems was the sole measurement device for skin conductance. Measurement was performed via the eSense App on an Apple iPad at a sampling rate of 5 Hz. The electrodes were attached to the index and middle fingers of the non-dominant hand using isotonic electrode paste. The setup proved practical even for the young age group. The authors explicitly highlighted the advantages of the device: low cost, portability, and minimal training required for professionals. They reference the validation of the eSense against the clinical reference device Biopac (Hinrichs et al. 2017) as the methodological basis.
Results
The researchers found statistically significant changes in skin conductance activity over the course of the trauma interview (F(2,110) = 46.13; p < 0.001): The peak value during the interview significantly exceeded the resting baseline, and by the end of the interview, significant habituation of the response was observed.
Key findings regarding content-related associations:
- The number of traumatic events experienced correlated positively with the magnitude of skin conductance response: r(55) = 0.30; p = 0.023. This association remained significant after statistical control for demographic variables.
- Stronger hyperarousal symptoms correlated with a greater degree of habituation of skin conductance activity during the interview: r(54) = 0.30; p = 0.016.
- No significant differences in baseline skin conductance were found between Black and non-Black children (p = 0.82), confirming the applicability of the measurement method in this demographically diverse group.
Significance
This study is the first to systematically examine mobile skin conductance measurement with the eSense Skin Response in traumatized children. The results demonstrate that physiological responses to trauma interviews are measurable in elementary school-age children using a consumer sensor — and that the measured responses show statistically meaningful associations with trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms.
The study was funded by the NIH (National Institute of Mental Health, R01-MH111682), underscoring the high scientific standard of the investigation. Particularly relevant is the demonstration that the measurement method is practical in a demographically diverse, underserved population — an important finding for use in community-based settings outside the laboratory.
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