On the Reliability of Wearable Technology: A Tutorial on Measuring Heart Rate and Heart Rate Variability in the Wild

Area of Science:

• Psychophysiology
• Wearable technology
• Biomedical engineering

Background:

• Wearable sensors are increasingly used in psychophysiological research.
• They enable data collection outside laboratory settings and over extended durations.
• Ensuring the reliability of physiological measurements from wearables is critical for research integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a tutorial on assessing the measurement reliability of wearable sensors in psychophysiological research.
• To elaborate on the importance of wearable sensor reliability.
• To offer statistical tools for evaluating wearable reliability in different research designs.

Main Methods:

• The study focuses on the fidelity of physiological measurement with wearable sensors, emphasizing reliability.
• Statistical tools are presented for assessing reliability in both between-participants and within-participant designs.
• The framework is illustrated using data from commercially available heart rate sensors.

Main Results:

• Measurement reliability of wearable sensors varied significantly across different sensor brands.
• Reliability was also dependent on the specific situations in which measurements were taken.
• Highest measurement reliability was observed during sleep.

Conclusions:

• Systematic quantification of measurement reliability is essential for informed decision-making in wearable sensor research.
• Researchers can make better choices regarding wearable devices and measurement protocols based on reliability data.
• This work aims to guide researchers in selecting appropriate wearable technology to meet their specific research objectives.