What advancement did UCLA Chemistry researchers target through sophisticated wearable sensing systems analyzing sweat?

Monitoring stress biomarkers like cortisol through electrochemical analysis.

Researchers associated with UCLA Chemistry made significant strides in non-invasive stress assessment by focusing on analyzing the chemical composition of sweat, which is a direct result of the body’s reaction to stress. Their development involved sophisticated wearable sensing systems employing electrochemical analysis. The goal was to monitor specific stress biomarkers, such as the hormone cortisol, as it is secreted through the skin. This represents a technological evolution from merely tracking general physiological symptoms, like increased heart rate, to measuring a potential chemical cause of stress in a real-time, continuous manner.