- Precise analysis of sleep, stress, and clinical status using a single device

- Published in the internationally renowned journal *Science Advances*... Implementation of a wireless system capable of real-time monitoring in everyday life

  A joint research team led by Professor Sun Hong Kim of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Seoul and Professor Jae-Young Yoo of the Department of Semiconductor Convergence Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University has developed a “wireless skin-interfaced wearable sensing system” capable of simultaneously measuring and analyzing complex physiological signals from the human body, including heart rate, respiration, skin response, and body temperature.

  The findings of this study have been published in the prestigious international journal, *Science Advances* (IF 12.5, top 8% in JCR). The proposed platform, which enables the integrated analysis of various biosignals using a single device, is gaining attention owing to its potential application in a wide range of fields, including stress analysis, sleep monitoring, and medical education.

(Paper title: Wireless, skin-interfaced multimodal sensing system for continuous psychophysiological monitoring—a wearable polygraph device)

Paper link:https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aed3162

▶ Device design schematic and an image of the device attached to the skin

  Conventional methods for measuring physiological signals have faced limitations in providing long-term continuous monitoring in real-world environments owing to their complex structure, which requires separate devices to measure electrocardiograms, respiration, and skin conductance. To address these issues, the research team developed a single compact, lightweight, wireless system that integrates multiple modalities, including heart rate, heart rate variability, respiration, skin conductance, skin temperature, and thermal conductivity. The system incorporates a flexible structure that adheres closely to the skin, enabling stable signal collection without causing discomfort, even during extended periods of wear.

  The key feature of this technology is the application of polygraph (lie detector) principles, which is used in criminal investigations, to wearable devices. The polygraph technology analyzes psychological states by simultaneously measuring various physiological signals. The research team reported that human stress and physiological changes result from a combination of multiple responses rather than a single signal. Furthermore, recognizing the limitations of conventional polygraphs that rely on numerous wired sensors and restricted environments, the team expanded the applicability of this technology by developing a wireless, compact integrated system that can be used in everyday settings.

▶ Photos from clinical trials

  In addition, this technology has demonstrated significant results in clinical settings. In a pediatric sleep study, the system detected events such as arousal, hypopnea, and apnea with high accuracy compared with conventional polysomnography (PSG). It could also successfully distinguish the specific patterns of the autonomic nervous system observed in children with Down syndrome. This suggests the potential for a novel diagnostic approach that can monitor a patient’s condition in the long term and noninvasively, without requiring complex diagnostic equipment. Furthermore, the research team confirmed that physiological stress changes in emergency medicine simulation training environments are closely associated with actual performance ability, thereby demonstrating the potential of the proposed system to serve as a performance analysis tool in medical education and high-risk professions.

▶ (From left) Professor Sun Hong Kim of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Seoul, Dr. Tae Wan Park (currently a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University), Dr. Seunghee Cho (currently at Samsung Electronics), and Professor Jae-Young Yoo of the Department of Semiconductor Convergence Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University

  The research team stated, “This technology serves as a platform capable of comprehensively analyzing various biosignals to interpret human conditions in real time, fundamentally expanding the limitations of conventional wearable technology.” The team further noted, “It is expected to evolve into a core technology that connects precise diagnosis and personalized treatment across a wide range of applications, including mental health, sleep disorders, critical care, and digital therapeutics.”

  This research is regarded as a significant achievement in the development of a next-generation integrated biosignal platform capable of monitoring an individual’s condition via a simple wearable interface and is expected to establish a new benchmark for the digital healthcare industry and support its broader adoption.

  This research was conducted as an international collaboration with Professor John A. Rogers of Northwestern University, with support from the University of Seoul’s Advanced Equipment Support Program for Academic Research and the National Research Foundation of Korea’s Global Basic Research Laboratory Program.