Using the computer mouse for stress measurement – An empirical investigation and critical review

• Published in: International journal of human-computer studies Vol. 145; p. 102520
• Main Authors: Freihaut, Paul, Göritz, Anja S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2021
• Subjects: Behavior; Computer mouse; Machine learning; Measurement; Stress; Unobtrusive; Measurement; Usage; Machine learning; Behavior; Computer mouse; Stress; Unobtrusive
• ISSN: 1071-5819
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2020.102520

•The computer mouse might be an ubiquitous, unobtrusive and cheap sensor for stress measurement.•Data from a laboratory study reveal no clear generalized relationship between mouse usage and stress.•The results challenge the state-of-the-art in the young research field and provide the basis for more thorough future research attempts.
The present study investigates the potential of measuring a person's stress level by their computer mouse usage. This measurement approach is based on the assumption that cognitive and physiological changes due to stress do manifest in measurable psycho-motor changes when using the mouse. We conducted a within-participant laboratory experiment in which we captured the mouse usage of N = 53 participants during four tasks in a high-stress and a low-stress condition. Although self-report as well as physiological data indicated successfully manipulated differences in stress level between the conditions, we failed to find clear differences in mouse usage as a function of stress level. Theoretical as well as methodological challenges of the research area, which emerged from the results, are discussed.