University of Miami Researchers Explore Link Between Walking Patterns and Mental Health Using AI
Researchers at the University of Miami are conducting a project called MindStep to investigate whether changes in walking patterns can provide clues about an individual's mental health. Moataz Eltoukhy, a professor of kinesiology and sport sciences, and Jennifer Britton, an associate professor of psychology, are using AI and new motion-capture technology to analyze gait changes in college students. Participants complete surveys about their mental health and perform intellectual tasks while walking, with specialized cameras recording their movements. Early results from one study suggest that individuals reporting symptoms of depression tended to alter their stride length more frequently during difficult working memory tasks. The researchers are also observing how students' walking patterns change when suppressing emotions or performing additional tasks like using a phone. Their goal is to develop an objective and noninvasive AI-based tool that can recognize subtle changes in movement indicative of fluctuati...
