Our movements can provide insight into how we are feeling, according to new research from the University of Texas at Dallas.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a study published this year<\/a> in the journal Gait & Posture, researchers asked 30 young adults to answer questions that screen for depression and anxiety. Participants then walked and did sit-to-walk movements while cameras recorded them. The scientists analyzed this data and used machine learning models to determine whether differences in gait and other movement features could distinguish between participants with heightened symptoms of depression and anxiety and those without.<\/p>\n \u201cOur study showed that depression and anxiety can be identified from human movement,\u201d Gu Eon Kang<\/a>, an assistant professor of bioengineering who led the study, said in a news release<\/a>. \u201cGait analysis could offer an objective method for evaluating mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n The research builds on a growing body of evidence suggesting that mental health affects both how people feel and move. For example,\u00a0a 2023 study<\/a> found that emotions such as sadness, excitement and fear influenced a person\u2019s pace and rhythm, suggesting emotional state can alter gait and should be considered when analyzing movement. A separate 2023 study<\/a> found that analyzing video of how movement changes over time could offer a practical way to assess anxiety.\u00a0<\/p>\n