EmotionCheck:: A Wearable Device to Regulate Anxiety through False Heart Rate Feedback

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Interoception, the perception of internal bodily signals, influences emotional states.
• Previous research suggests manipulating interoceptive accuracy can impact emotional regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of a wearable device (EmotionCheck) in altering heart rate perception.
• To determine if manipulating heart rate perception can aid in anxiety regulation.

Main Methods:

• Developed EmotionCheck, a wrist-worn device delivering haptic feedback to simulate heart rate.
• Conducted an experiment with 67 participants using the device to provide false slow heart rate feedback.
• Measured anxiety levels and perceived heart rate before and after device use.

Main Results:

• Participants using EmotionCheck reported a reduced perception of their actual heart rate.
• The device demonstrated a statistically significant effect in helping users regulate anxiety symptoms.
• False feedback of a slow heart rate was associated with decreased anxiety.

Conclusions:

• Wearable technology can be leveraged to modify interoceptive perception.
• EmotionCheck offers a novel, non-invasive approach to anxiety management through altered bodily signal perception.
• Future research should explore long-term effects and diverse applications of sensory feedback for emotional well-being.