Lived Experiences Measured Using Rings Study (LEMURS)

Building on a decade of work quantifying mood & health using social media activity, this talk will share preliminary findings from our new longitudinal wearables study of well-being. A cohort of 600 students have been recruited to take part in an experiment incentivizing healthy behaviors. In spring 2023, students were randomized into four groups of 150:

1. Exercise,
2. Nature experiences,
3. Group therapy, and
4. Self-monitoring.

Changes in sleep, stress, mental health, and other outcomes are assessed through a series of weekly surveys deployed through a dedicated mobile app, as well as continuous heart-rate and activity monitoring with the Oura Ring. The project involves scholars of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Data Ethics, Mathematics & Statistics, Natural Resources, Psychiatry, and Psychology.

About the Speakers
Chris Danforth: An esteemed applied mathematician and computer scientist at the University of Vermont, Professor Danforth is known for his pioneering work in analyzing human behavior through social media data. He co-directs the Computational Story Lab at the Vermont Complex Systems Center. His notable creation, the "Hedonometer," measures collective mood using sentiment analysis. Danforth's research, including collaborations revealing insights into mental health via digital footprints, has significantly advanced our understanding of human emotions. His upcoming talk on the "Lived Experiences Measured Using Rings Study (LEMURS)" will highlight his latest research in mood and health quantification using wearable technology.

Mikaela Fudolig: A distinguished Research Assistant Professor at UVM, Dr. Fudolig brings an impressive background in Physics, holding BS, MS, and PhD degrees from the University of the Philippines Diliman and postdoctoral experience at the Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics. Fudolig's work in Computational Social Science has spanned analyzing human behavior across various datasets, including mobile communications, social media, and music. Her current focus is on integrating high-resolution physiological measurements from wearables with survey data in the LEMURS project. She will present her findings on how heart rate variations during sleep correlate with mental health, offering novel insights into the intricate relationship between physiological states and psychological well-being.

This meeting will be available via Zoom. Link to be posted on the day.