This tutorial will explain how to build a machine for biofeedback. But first a bit of theory.
What is biofeedback?
[Font: Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofeedback]
Biofeedback is the process of gaining greater awareness of many physiological functions primarily using instruments that provide information on the activity of those same systems, with a goal of being able to manipulate them at will. Some of the processes that can be controlled include brainwaves, muscle tone, skin conductance, heart rate and painperception.
Biofeedback may be used to improve health, performance, and the physiological changes that often occur in conjunction with changes to thoughts, emotions, and behavior.Step 1: List of Materials
Let’s start with the list of materials needed:
- Arduino UNO
- breadboard
- LCD 16 x 2
- A temperature sensor TMP36
- Two plates of copper or conductive metal
- Some connection cables
Step 2: Mount the LCD screen
First we begin to build the electronic circuit on breaboard. We put all the components starting from the LCD.
We pay attention to where we insert the display on the breadboard.
Follow the image to link the 10 pin to VCC, GROUND, POTENTIOMETER and 6 Arduino pin.
When you have connected the LCD to the Arduino board try to this LCD Example sketch and see the result. Go to https://github.com/masteruan/Arduino-Biofeedback/blob/master/LCD_test and download the sketch.
Step 3: Mount Sensors
Ok now you can mount the sensors. The TMP36 have 3 pin. Two for alimentation VCC and GND, and une for measurement. You can put the VCC pin and GND pin on the breadboard’s VCC-GND pin. After put the measurement pin on the Arduino’s A1 pin.
Step 4: GSR sensor
After this mounting you can create a GSR sensor. You can use two copper pieces. If you live in Europe, you can use the 1 or 2 euro money like in figure.
Put the pin of the copper pieces like in figure. Use a 220k Ohm resistor between GND and A0 Arduino pin.
Step 5: Upload the sketch
Double check that everything is ok in the electronic circuit. Check especially the pins VCC and GND. Check that they are not reversed. Take your time for this control. The risk is to burn Arduino and electronic components used. When you finish this stage you just have to upload the sketch on the Arduino board. Click the link: https://github.com/masteruan/Arduino-Biofeedback/blob/master/Biofeedback. Go Upload!
Step 6: Operating instructions
When away from the Arduino biofeedback appear on the screen you’ll see the welcome screen. Keep your fingers between the temperature sensor TMP36 and supports the index finger and ring finger on the copper pieces. And then you can see how the device will begin to measure your vital signs like temperature and heart skin conductance.
On the screen you can read the current GSR temperature value, the maximum value GSR skin conductance and the time elapsed since the machine.
You can open the serial port of your computer and read the value on the screen. After 1 second the value are updated. You can create the report of entire measurement session. Like in photo.
Also on Arduino Biofeedback Github repositoryhttps://github.com/masteruan/Arduino-Biofeedback you can find a Processing sketch for use a Processing graphical interface. View the GSR view value on the X Y diagram.
