Ambulatory monitoring of human behavior, physiology and environment - A research and development agenda to go beyond actigraphy

Abstract

Multichannel ambulatory monitoring of human behavior, physiology and environment has the potential to characterize the function of complex interacting closed-loop regulatory systems under unconstrained conditions in the field. This characterization can be important for diagnostic purposes, for treatment response monitoring, as well as to gain insight in underlying mechanisms of disorders and complaints. At present, several systems are commercially available. Only few of them, however, truly meet the aim of not constraining the participants under study in any substantial way. The most successful device is the actigraph, a small activity recorder worn on the wrist like a watch and truly as unobtrusive as wearing a watch. We briefly discuss the applications and opportunities for improvement for this measurement device with ample application in sleep and circadian rhythm studies. Sub-sequently, we give a brief discussion of another promising miniature device, for recording skin temperature. Most other commercially available devices do not yet fully meet the aim of unconstrained recording. Some recommendations and examplse are given, including novel avenues for integrated sensors, monitoring straps and the analysis of multivariate long-term recordings that could yield a better diagnosis and treatment response monitoring and a better understanding of the typically closed-loop multivariate regulation of human physiology in health and disease. © 2009 Springer-Verlag.