Russian scientists have created a system that can recognize professional burnout by micro-movements of the eyes. The technology analyzes barely noticeable oscillations of the eyeballs and uses them to assess the state of the brain, the level of fatigue and exhaustion. In the future, such systems may appear in aviation, transport, and large enterprises.
The device diagnoses a person's condition based on the parameters of their eyes. The system measures involuntary micro-movements of the eyeballs, which occur constantly and are practically imperceptible to humans. To record such oscillations, ultra-slow-motion video recording with a frequency of 960 frames per second is used.
The complex includes a high-precision video camera, special lighting, a forehead-chin rest, and a computer with software. The camera records eye movements, and the program analyzes inter-frame image shifts, frequency, microtremor amplitude, and other statistical parameters.
Scientists explain that vision is the main source of information for the brain about the outside world, and eye microtremor is directly related to the work of neurons in the brainstem. That is why such movements can be used to judge a person's functional state.
One of the system's tasks was to identify professional burnout. This condition arises from prolonged exposure to stress at work and is accompanied by emotional and physical exhaustion, decreased performance, and a feeling of alienation from the outside world.
According to the developers, the device can not only detect burnout. It can also be used to monitor fatigue, schizophrenic spectrum disorders, and even the effects of weightlessness on the body.
The development was presented by scientists from St. Petersburg State University together with colleagues from the A.M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The research has already been confirmed by a patent.