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Upon being told to deliver an unprepared five-minute speech and then calculate in reverse in steps of 17 – before a trio of unknown individuals – the sudden tension was visible in my features.

The reason was that researchers were documenting this somewhat terrifying situation for a scientific study that is studying stress using infrared imaging.

Stress alters the circulation in the facial area, and experts have determined that the cooling effect of a individual's nasal area can be used as a indicator of tension and to monitor recovery.

Heat mapping, according to the psychologists behind the study could be a "game changer" in stress research.

The Scientific Tension Assessment

The scientific tension assessment that I subjected myself to is meticulously designed and intentionally created to be an unexpected challenge. I arrived at the university with little knowledge what I was about to experience.

To begin, I was told to settle, calm down and experience white noise through a audio headset.

So far, so calming.

Then, the scientist who was overseeing the assessment invited a panel of three strangers into the area. They collectively gazed at me silently as the researcher informed that I now had three minutes to develop a short talk about my "perfect occupation".

As I felt the temperature increase around my collar area, the scientists captured my complexion altering through their infrared device. My nose quickly dropped in warmth – showing colder on the infrared display – as I contemplated ways to manage this spontaneous talk.

Research Findings

The researchers have carried out this identical tension assessment on 29 volunteers. In every case, they observed the nasal area decrease in warmth by between three and six degrees.

My nose dropped in heat by a small amount, as my biological response system pushed blood flow away from my nasal region and to my eyes and ears – a bodily response to help me to look and listen for threats.

Most participants, similar to myself, recovered quickly; their nasal areas heated to baseline measurements within a short time.

Principal investigator stated that being a journalist and presenter has probably made me "somewhat accustomed to being put in anxiety-provoking circumstances".

"You are used to the filming device and conversing with unfamiliar people, so you're probably quite resilient to interpersonal pressures," the scientist clarified.

"But even someone like you, accustomed to being anxiety-provoking scenarios, exhibits a bodily response alteration, so which implies this 'nose temperature drop' is a consistent measure of a altering tension condition."

Stress Management Applications

Anxiety is natural. But this finding, the scientists say, could be used to aid in regulating damaging amounts of tension.

"The period it takes someone to recover from this cooling effect could be an quantifiable indicator of how well an individual controls their tension," explained the head scientist.

"When they return unusually slowly, could that be a risk marker of psychological issues? Could this be a factor that we can do anything about?"

Because this technique is non-invasive and monitors physiological changes, it could also be useful to monitor stress in infants or in individuals unable to express themselves.

The Mental Arithmetic Challenge

The following evaluation in my anxiety evaluation was, from my perspective, more difficult than the initial one. I was told to calculate sequentially decreasing from 2023 in steps of 17. A member of the group of unresponsive individuals halted my progress whenever I calculated incorrectly and instructed me to begin anew.

I admit, I am poor with mental arithmetic.

While I used embarrassing length of time trying to force my brain to perform subtraction, all I could think was that I desired to escape the growing uncomfortable space.

Throughout the study, only one of the numerous subjects for the tension evaluation did truly seek to leave. The rest, comparable to my experience, completed their tasks – probably enduring varying degrees of embarrassment – and were compensated by a further peaceful interval of white noise through audio devices at the conclusion.

Primate Study Extensions

Perhaps one of the most surprising aspects of the approach is that, because thermal cameras record biological tension reactions that is inherent within many primates, it can additionally be applied in other species.

The scientists are presently creating its application in sanctuaries for great apes, including chimpanzees and gorillas. They want to work out how to decrease anxiety and boost the health of animals that may have been saved from traumatic circumstances.

The team has already found that presenting mature chimps video footage of infant chimps has a soothing influence. When the scientists installed a video screen close to the rehabilitated primates' habitat, they saw the noses of primates that viewed the content increase in temperature.

So, in terms of stress, viewing infant primates engaging in activities is the contrary to a unexpected employment assessment or an impromptu mathematical challenge.

Future Applications

Using thermal cameras in primate refuges could turn out to be valuable in helping rescued animals to become comfortable to a different community and unfamiliar environment.

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