circadian rhythms are not captured equal: Exploring Circadian metrics extracted by differentcomputational methods from smartphone accelerometer and GPS sensors in daily life tracking

Objective To identify the differences between circadian rhythm (CR) metrics characterized by different mobile sensors and computational methods. Methods We used smartphone tracking and daily survey data from 225 college student participants, applied four methods (survey construct automation, cosinor...

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Main Authors: Congyu Wu, Megan McMahon, Hagen Fritz, David M. Schnyer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2022-07-01
Series:Digital Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221114201
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author Congyu Wu
Megan McMahon
Hagen Fritz
David M. Schnyer
author_facet Congyu Wu
Megan McMahon
Hagen Fritz
David M. Schnyer
author_sort Congyu Wu
collection DOAJ
description Objective To identify the differences between circadian rhythm (CR) metrics characterized by different mobile sensors and computational methods. Methods We used smartphone tracking and daily survey data from 225 college student participants, applied four methods (survey construct automation, cosinor regression, non-parametric method, Fourier analysis) on two types of smartphone sensor data (GPS, accelerometer) to characterize CR. We explored the inter-relations among the extracted circadian metrics as well as between the circadian metrics and participants’ self-reported mood and sleep outcomes. Results Compared to GPS signals, smartphone accelerometer activity follows an intradaily distribution that starts earlier in the day, winds down later, reaches half cumulative activity about the same time, conforms less to a sinusoidal wave, and exhibits more intradaily fragmentation but higher CR strength and lower interdaily disruption. We found a notable negative correlation between intradaily variability and CR strength especially pronounced in GPS activity. Self-reported sleep and mood outcomes showed significant correlations with particular CR metrics. Conclusions We revealed significant inter-relations and discrepancies in the circadian metrics discovered from two smartphone sensors and four CR algorithms and their bearings on wellbeing indicators such as sleep quality and loneliness.
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spelling doaj.art-cb65e15e99f343e5b4246f6675cd62a72022-12-22T03:01:38ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762022-07-01810.1177/20552076221114201circadian rhythms are not captured equal: Exploring Circadian metrics extracted by differentcomputational methods from smartphone accelerometer and GPS sensors in daily life trackingCongyu Wu0Megan McMahon1Hagen Fritz2David M. Schnyer3 Department of Psychology, , USA; Department of Psychology, , USA; Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, , USA Department of Psychology, , USA;Objective To identify the differences between circadian rhythm (CR) metrics characterized by different mobile sensors and computational methods. Methods We used smartphone tracking and daily survey data from 225 college student participants, applied four methods (survey construct automation, cosinor regression, non-parametric method, Fourier analysis) on two types of smartphone sensor data (GPS, accelerometer) to characterize CR. We explored the inter-relations among the extracted circadian metrics as well as between the circadian metrics and participants’ self-reported mood and sleep outcomes. Results Compared to GPS signals, smartphone accelerometer activity follows an intradaily distribution that starts earlier in the day, winds down later, reaches half cumulative activity about the same time, conforms less to a sinusoidal wave, and exhibits more intradaily fragmentation but higher CR strength and lower interdaily disruption. We found a notable negative correlation between intradaily variability and CR strength especially pronounced in GPS activity. Self-reported sleep and mood outcomes showed significant correlations with particular CR metrics. Conclusions We revealed significant inter-relations and discrepancies in the circadian metrics discovered from two smartphone sensors and four CR algorithms and their bearings on wellbeing indicators such as sleep quality and loneliness.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221114201
spellingShingle Congyu Wu
Megan McMahon
Hagen Fritz
David M. Schnyer
circadian rhythms are not captured equal: Exploring Circadian metrics extracted by differentcomputational methods from smartphone accelerometer and GPS sensors in daily life tracking
Digital Health
title circadian rhythms are not captured equal: Exploring Circadian metrics extracted by differentcomputational methods from smartphone accelerometer and GPS sensors in daily life tracking
title_full circadian rhythms are not captured equal: Exploring Circadian metrics extracted by differentcomputational methods from smartphone accelerometer and GPS sensors in daily life tracking
title_fullStr circadian rhythms are not captured equal: Exploring Circadian metrics extracted by differentcomputational methods from smartphone accelerometer and GPS sensors in daily life tracking
title_full_unstemmed circadian rhythms are not captured equal: Exploring Circadian metrics extracted by differentcomputational methods from smartphone accelerometer and GPS sensors in daily life tracking
title_short circadian rhythms are not captured equal: Exploring Circadian metrics extracted by differentcomputational methods from smartphone accelerometer and GPS sensors in daily life tracking
title_sort circadian rhythms are not captured equal exploring circadian metrics extracted by differentcomputational methods from smartphone accelerometer and gps sensors in daily life tracking
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076221114201
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