Feature classification of heart rate variability depending on difficulty levels of a puzzle game

摘要

Heart rate variability is a biological reaction that is affected by physical and psychological states. The interval between successive heartbeats is known as the R-wave to R-wave interval (RRI). Correspondingly, low RRI values indicate higher heart rates. Stress and fatigue can be quantified from the differences in RRIs between work and rest [1], [ 2]. The same test can only be used in cases when a subject is engaged in a task requiring dexterity and creativity [1], [2]. In this study, we demonstrate the use of our method during the play of the video game puzzle Minesweeper in an effort to expand the method's applicability scope. In order to clarify impressions of the video game that can be evaluated based on heart rate variability, a procedure was implemented and repeated three times, whereby participants rested with their eyes closed in a sitting position for 3 minutes, and then spent another 3 minutes playing Minesweeper. We related the volunteers' responses to a questionnaire conducted after the completion of the experiment and the RRI differences between rest and during Minesweeper play. The RRI values were lower when volunteers played Minesweeper compared to their RRIs at rest. We also analyzed the correlation between the questionnaire responses and the differences between the median RRIs at rest and during Minesweeper play. The analyses showed that the `fatigue' responses during play at the highest difficulty level were negatively correlated with the median RRI values (ρ = -0.605, p <; 0.05), while the responses of `regretted' and "the wish to make another try" during play at the standard difficulty level elicited positive correlations with the median RRI values (ρ = 0.558 and ρ = 0.573, p <; 0.05, respectively).