EXAMINING SELF-REGULATION USING WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
Catherine Spann, Ph.D.James Schaeffer, M.S.George Siemens, Ph.D.
Learning Analytics & Knowledge Conference Vancouver, CA | March 2017
SELF-REGULATION
Broad term that refers to the full range of ways in which human beings adjust their behavior
Foundation for learning and achievement
PSYCHOBIOLOGICAL MODEL OF SELF-REGULATION
Blair, C., & Raver, C. C. (2015). School Readiness and Self-Regulation: A Developmental Psychobiological Approach. Annual Review of Psychology, 66(1), 711–731. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-015221
COMMON NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT: DIMENSIONAL CHANGE CARD SORT TASK
• Rules• Match by color or shape• Switch between rules
• Components of self-regulation tested• Working memory• Inhibitory control• Cognitive flexibility
• Performance greatly depends on prefrontal cortex
COMMON PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS:HEART RATE AND HEART RATE VARIABILITY
Brain and body intimately connected
HR is different form HRV Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
Vagus nerve is the single most important nerve in the body (Tracey, 2002)
Central Autonomic Network (CAN) of the brain inhibits autonomic arousal via the efferent vagus nerve and regulates the rhythm of the heart
Evidence that HRV at rest predicts self-regulatory abilities Yet to be tested during a task
Tracey, K. J. (2002). The inflammatory reflex. Nature, 420(6917), 853–859.Thayer, J. F., Yamamoto, S. S., & Brosschot, J. F. (2010). The relationship of autonomic imbalance, heart rate variability and cardiovascular disease risk factors. International Journal of Cardiology, 141(2), 122–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2009.09.543
HeartRateDataExamplesHigher HF variability(0.15-0.4Hz)
LowerHFvariability(0.15-0.4Hz)FastFourierTransform
HigherHFvariability(yellow)
LowerHFvariability(yellow)
Participant
46Participant
51
CurrentStudy:Self-Regulation attheMuseum• Participants
• Museumvisitors8 yrs.andolder
• Measures• ExecutiveFunctioning• DimensionalChangeCardSorttask
• Self-reportQuestionnaires• Self-regulationquestionnaire• Self-AssessmentManikinformoodandarousal
• Physiologicaldata(viaE4wristband)• HR,HRV(Photoplethysmography (PPG))• Skinconductance (EDA)• Accelerometer Empatica E4
CurrentStudy:Self-Regulation attheMuseum• Participants
• Museumvisitors8 yrs.andolder
• Measures• ExecutiveFunctioning• DimensionalChangeCardSorttask
• Self-reportQuestionnaires• Self-regulationquestionnaire• Self-AssessmentManikinformoodandarousal
• Physiologicaldata(viaE4wristband)• HR,HRV(Photoplethysmography (PPG))• Skinconductance (EDA)• Accelerometer Empatica E4
CurrentStudy:Self-Regulation attheMuseum• Participants
• Museumvisitors8 yrs.andolder
• Measures• ExecutiveFunctioning• DimensionalChangeCardSorttask
• Self-reportQuestionnaires• Self-regulationquestionnaire• Self-AssessmentManikinformoodandarousal
• Physiologicaldata(viaE4wristband)• HR,HRV(Photoplethysmography (PPG))• Skinconductance (EDA)• Accelerometer Empatica E4
SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICSN = 228 43.4% Males
Mean age = 25.47, SD = 16.35 Minimum 8 Maximum 69
Ethnicity 20.5% Hispanic or Latino
Race 58.2% White 13.2% Black 13.2% Other 11.8% Asian 3.6% More than One Race
BASELINE HR AND HRV MEASURES
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100
Heart Rate
Baseline
During Task
Significant increase in HR from baseline to during task, t(174) = -7.10, p < .001
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Heart Rate Variability
No significant change in HRV from baseline to task, t(174) = 1.20, p = .23
CORRELATIONS
Heart Rate Heart Rate Variability Self-Reported Arousal
--
Heart Rate Variability -.55** --
Self-Reported Arousal .17* -.08 --
Executive Functioning -.05 .17* .18*
Note: Controlling for AgeN = 176** p < .001* p < .05
Curvilinear relationship
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90
100
110
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150
Very low (-2 SD)
Low(-1 SD)
Average High(+1 SD)
Very high(+ 2 SD)
Executive Functioning
Self-Reported Arousal
MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSESOUTCOME: EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING
b SE t p Effect Size (%)
Age 5.78 3.29 1.76 .081 1.61%
Heart Rate 0.10 0.15 0.66 .507 0.18%
Self-ReportedArousal
-0.91 0.34 -2.69 .008 3.76%
Heart RateVariability
5.89 1.93 3.05 .003 4.84%
HRV X Age -6.23 2.46 -2.53 .012 3.33%
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160
Very Low HRV (-2 SD) Low HRV (-1 SD) Mean HRV (6.56) High HRV (+1 SD) Very High HRV (+2 SD)
Executive Functioning
Heart Rate Variability
Age 8 (p = .001)
Age 11 (p = .001)
Age 15 (p = .001)
Age 21 (p = .004)
Age 28 (p = .039)
Age 39 (p = .354)
SUMMARY
-First study to examine HRV during executive functioning task
-HR and HRV are differentHRV predicts Executive Functioning, HR does not
-HRV is a stronger predictor of performance than self-reported arousal
IMPLICATIONSHRV is an indicator of self-regulation A multi-method approach to self-regulation Consider costs and ease of measurement Complements, but doesn’t replace existing methods
Wearable tech can offer a non-invasive, passive measurement
Age is important factor in psychophysiological variables
Adjust schedules depending on self-regulatory pattern
Self-regulation implicated in almost every aspect of life, not just learning
Increase HRV, Increase Self-Regulation