Description
Measure and regulate your stress level on the go with the eSense Skin Response Biofeedback home-use device on your smartphone or tablet!
The Mindfield eSense Skin Response Biofeedback home-use device is a small sensor that measures your skin conductance using the microphone input of your smartphone or tablet (Android or Apple iOS). Your skin conductance depends directly on your relaxation or stress, making it a commonly used and exact stress indicator. With the eSense Skin Response, you can precisely identify and reduce your stress level with biofeedback training. It can also help you in the management of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, headaches, and many other conditions that are dependent on autonomic nervous system states.
The eSense Skin Response can also be very useful in practicing optimal performance.
This Skin Response Biofeedback device provides exact feedback about your momentary stress level through various methods, such as measurement curves, video displays, and audio feedback features.
The eSense now has a headphone jack for the audio biofeedback, so you can listen to music or audiobooks while training your stress level down!
The App for eSense Biofeedback Device is free in the Google Play Store (Android) or the Apple App Store (iOS) and allows data measurement to be exported via e-mail. The eSense Skin Response is also compatible with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (in combination with the included Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter).
How does our skin reflect our condition and state?
Perspiration and Stress Response: The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System
The activity of the perspiration glands is determined by the autonomic nervous system, which contains two major subunits: the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. The skin’s perspiration glands are solely controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, making them a good indicator of inner strain and stress.
The sweat glands react directly to the slightest emotional, physical, or mental changes.
Stress, which may include mental activity, emotional arousal, deep inhalation, or fear, causes a rise in skin conductance.
The sympathetic nervous system reacts to stress stimuli by activating all the “emergency functions” of the body, bringing it to a state of heightened responsiveness: pulse and blood pressure rise along with the glucose level in the blood and general alertness. With these changes comes the effect of “wet hands,” on which the skin response measurement relies.
Historical and Practical Insights into Stress-Induced Perspiration
We all know a time in our lives when our hands got wet. Think of your speech in front of an audience or during a job interview. Can you remember the cold, sweaty hands if you were excited in those situations?
A scientific theory for this effect assumes that our ancestors needed wet hands to firm up their grip on things, for example, in an escape or pursuit through challenging terrain. When the threatening situation is over, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes dominant: pulse, blood pressure, and glucose levels fall again. The body enters a rest state to allow healing. The hands become dry again.
The increased activity of the perspiration glands through a (stress) stimulus is easily visible through the associated increase in skin conductance. The stimulus can be a mental or emotional strain, such as taking a sudden, deep breath or a startling action like someone unexpectedly clapping hands or the loud drop of an item onto the floor.
Just try it with the eSense Skin Response Biofeedback sensor – you will quickly see the effects!
What is Skin response in general?
Skin response, also known as galvanic skin response (GSR), electrodermal response (EDR), or skin conductance (SC), is a measurement method based on the bio-electrical properties of the skin. Skin conductance depends on the activity of the sweat glands of the skin and reacts to the slightest changes, which we can’t detect as wet hands yet. The eSense Skin Response applies a very small, safe, and unnoticeable electrical voltage, which results in an electrical current to the skin. Through the changes of this small current, we can measure the activity of the perspiration glands of the skin far below the threshold of self-perception. The higher the stress, the more active the sweat glands become, resulting in wetter skin and improved current conductivity. As a result, the skin conductance rises.
The Skin Response measures the Skin Conductance in Micro Siemens or μSiemens. Skin conductance is measured in μSiemens or symbolized as μS (where μ denotes a millionth and Siemens is the unit of conductance). “Skin resistance” is also a common term, simply indicating the inverse of conductance (1S = 1/Ω).
To read more about Skin Conductance and its management through biofeedback training, please visit our website, “Electrodermal activity biofeedback.”
Skin response and biofeedback training
In a professional, therapeutic context, skin conductance training is the preferred biofeedback training method for anxiety, panic, and learning relaxation.
Biofeedback training can significantly reduce stress and vegetative symptoms by intentionally lowering your skin response.
Skin response is a universal tool for biofeedback training. It is widely used in the therapy of anxiety, panic disorders, and specific phobias. Further uses include high blood pressure, tinnitus, and sleep disorders. If you suffer from a severe disorder or medical condition, always consult a professional physician or therapist, and do not attempt to treat yourself. The eSense Skin Response is not a medical device and may only be used for stress reduction training.
Indications and Measurement Process for Skin Response Biofeedback
- anxiety,
- panic disorders,
- specific phobias,
- high blood pressure,
- tinnitus,
- sleep disorders,
- headache (tension, migraine),
- management of stress and its consequences,
- optimal performance
The eSense Skin Response is a precise device. It can measure the smallest changes, making it impossible to recognize yourself. The following measurement example shows how insightful the results are.
To take measurements, place two electrodes on the fingertips of the same hand, specifically on the index and middle fingers. The dark-colored lower side of the electrode should be in good skin contact. Other positions for the electrodes and other electrode types are possible as well. The eSense Skin Response applies a low, utterly harmless voltage to the skin through two electrodes, allowing a shallow current to flow. As your tension increases, your skin becomes wetter, improving the conductivity of the current and increasing skin conductance.
Feedback Training and Stress Differentiation with eSense
Feedback training aims to reduce the permanent, basic level of stress and the immediate stress response to a particular stimulus. Biofeedback training consists of four training stages. Schedule about 60 to 90 minutes of free time to conduct the first training flexibly undisturbed.
It must also be differentiated between different types of stress. There is “bad stress,” distress, and “good stress,” eustress. Consider whether you feel stressed because you are overwhelmed, angry, or upset or experiencing ‘stress’ from excitement and motivation. In both scenarios, the eSense Skin Response will display elevated values. However, you should view the first situation negatively, while the second allows you to embrace and utilize that active or euphoric state.
The eSense Skin Response Biofeedback Device Manual provides a detailed explanation of the procedure.
Skin Conductance Response (SCR) – How does it work, and how can it be interpreted?
Skin Conductance contains two components: the tonic, static “level,” and the phasic, fluctuating “reactions,” which are usually designated as Skin Conductance Responses (SCR).
While the “level” is represented well in the average of the measured values, the eSense Skin Response also measures the amount of Skin Conductance Response (SCR) per minute. In general, a higher number of SCR per minute is an indicator of higher stress.
- Value from experience that aligns with scientific literature suggests a “relaxed” frame is between 0 and 5 SRC per minute.
- From 6-9, SRC/min starts an animated state.
- You can assume a stress level or high stress from 10 or 16 SRC/min.
The SCR is great for comparing biofeedback sessions. If your goal for training is to reduce stress, then the amount of SRC/min should decrease over several sessions. You can compare the different sessions in the app’s archive.
The average value in μS of a session indicates the “level,” hence how high your basic level of tension or relaxation is. It would be best to lower this while performing stress reduction training. The average value also considers the SCR and is falsified with many SRC/min. Therefore, you should use as quiet a frame as possible without any SCR to determine your “stress level” in μS.
The eSense app’s SRC/min is colored. Low SRC is green or yellow, and high SRC/min is orange or red. While making a measurement, the recognized SRC is colored within the curve.
Possibilities of the App
To train and improve your breathing, the app offers a wealth of biofeedback feedback:
- Bar feedback
- Curve feedback
- Video feedback (videos included and own videos freely selectable)
- Music feedback (music included and own music freely selectable)
- Tone feedback (change of pitch by the measured values)
- Tactile feedback through vibration (only smartphones; tablets cannot vibrate)
- Feedback through color changes of smart bulbs (Bluetooth bulbs and Philips Hue products are controllable)
What iOS Devices Does It Support?
- All iOS devices from version 12.5 or higher, which are (in part):
- Apple® iPhone® 5S, iPhone® 6 / 6S, iPhone® SE / SE 2, iPhone® 7/7 +, iPhone® 8/8 +, iPhone® X, iPhone® XR, iPhone® XS, iPhone® 11/11 Pro, iPhone® 12/12 Pro
- Apple® iPad® from the 5th generation (iPad Air) or newer, including all iPad Mini from the 2nd generation
- Apple® iPad® Pro from 1st generation or newer
- Apple® iPod Touch® from 6th generation or newer
Note: Some newer iOS devices without the classic 3.5mm headphone jack and the newer Lightning / USB-C connector also work perfectly with the eSense. You either need an original Apple USB-C or an original Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm connection adapter (not included in the scope of delivery of the eSense). Alternatively, you also can use any other adapter with a DAC chip. We recommend this adapter on Amazon.
Which Android Devices Does It Support?
- All Android Smartphones and Tablets from Android 7.0 (Nougat)
Your Android device requires a 3,5mm jack (headphone jack) for external microphones!
We recommend using an adapter with a DAC chip for Android devices without a headphone jack. We recommend this adapter on Amazon. - Suppose you plan on purchasing a device to use the eSense App. We suggest a Nokia 2.4, a Nokia G20, a Motorola Moto E7i Power, or a Xiaomi Redmi 9a as inexpensive entry-level devices.
Caution: Never use the eSense Skin Response while charging your iOS/Android device! - The eSense Skin Response runs on the microphone input of the iOS or Android device without using batteries.
Scope of delivery of the eSense Skin Response
- Mindfield® eSense Skin Response Sensor
- 2 Velcro electrodes
- The free Mindfield app is available on the App Store or Google Play
- Detailed instructions for effective biofeedback training
You can also have an eSense Skin Response savings set with additional electrodes (€ 169.00) in the shop, which you can use to save compared to buying them separately!
You can also save by purchasing an eSense Skin Response and Respiration Set (€ 229.00)
This set consists of 2 eSense sensors: The eSense Respiration and the eSense Skin Response.
The eSense Respiration only works with an eSense Skin Response. You can use the eSense Skin Response independently.
