Research On Garment Tactile Comfort Based On Electronenurophysiology

In the field of medicine, Electro-Physiology studies the electrical properties of tissues and cells, and explores their relationship with a variety of physiological functions through observing their changes under different conditions. Studies on the Neurology-related fields in Electrophysiology are more wider. During the development of electro-physiology, Electroneurophysiology is the main force, with its methods of recording and testing the membrane potential change, ion channel conduction velocity and ion channel activity of animals as a whole or isolated organs, tissues, nerves and cells by electro-physiological instruments. This method is often used to obtain accurate determination in shield environment, including spontaneous electrical activity of various organs (Electrocardio, EEG, Neuroelectricity), evoked potentials and etc.Electroneurophysiological methods used to study garment tactile comfort have some especial advantages. Through this method, people's instinctive physiological responses after receiving external stimulation information are studied, which could truly reflect the stimulation's effect on human senses. At the same time, it is objective determination of physiological responses directly related to tactile comfort sense, and also can achieve quantified expressions of physiological responses.This study, therefore, aims to apply the electroneurophysiological methods to research the garment tactile comfort based on theories of Electrophysiology. By observing physiological responses and their changes, physiological indexes presenting garment tactile comfort are to be extracted.First, the paper provides an overview of the causes, influential factors and evaluation methods of six kinds of sensations garment tactile comfort. Three research methods commonly used in the study of garment comfort, including physical indicators method, psychophysical method and Electro-neurophysiological method are also reviewed. Based on the comprehensive information of related researches, this project selected nine kinds of fabrics and produced 9 pieces of experimental garments. From the perspective of fabrics, objective physical properties experiments and subjective sensations evaluation related to the tactile comfort of fabric were carried out. Through induced EMG experiments, two indicators which can effectively represent the EMG electromyographic changing characteristics were extracted, that is, peak-to-peak value and area of evoked potential muscle action. Correlation analysis between the two EMG indicators and objective physical indicators related to fabric tactile comfort as well as subjective evaluation grades were carried out. Analysis results showed that peak-to-peak value and area of evoked muscle potential had significant correlationship to some objective physical indicators and some subjective sensations. And peak-to-peak value and area of evoked muscle potential can be used in the Characterization of fabrics tactile comfort. On the basis of EMG experiment results, calculation methods of subjects' fabrics tactile identification were proposed for subsequent reference in quantitative study about EMG indicators.From the perspective of garments, objective physical properties related to the tactile comfort of garments were determined. Two EEG indicators (left and right occipital alpha waves of energy percentage) were extracted through EEG monitoring experiments. Correlation analysis between these two EEG indicators with objective physical indicators related to garment tactile comfort and subjective evaluation grades were carried out. After that, subjective sensations and physical properties of fabrics contained in the EEG signal could be obtained. Analysis results showed that left and right occipital alpha waves of energy percentage have significant correlation to some objective physical indicators and some subjective sensations. Therefore, left occipital alpha waves of energy percentage can be used as an effective objective indicator in the evaluation of garment tactile comfort.