A hierarchical classification of dry/wet Mizaj (Temperament) using thermal imaging

Background and Purpose: Mizaj (Temperament) identification is an important stage of diagnosis in Persian Medicine (PM). This study aimed to evaluate thermal imaging as a reliable tool that can be used instead of subjective assessments. 

This study was conducted in the winter of 2020 at the Behesht Traditional Medicine Health Clinic (Tehran, Iran). The Mizaj (Temperament) of 34 participants was assessed by a PM specialist using Mojahedi Mizaj standardized Questionnaire (MMQ). Also thermal images of the wrist at the radial pulse location, the back of the hand, and their whole face were recorded by a thermography camera model T2 (ULIRVISION Co.) and the temperatures of regions of interest were measured. 

Twelve thermal features were extracted and a classifying algorithm was designed based on a genetic algorithm and an Adaboost classifier. By selecting 7 of the 12 features that had the most impact on the classification, the mean accuracy of 85.6%, sensitivity of 66.7%, and specificity of 91.7% were obtained.

The thermal imaging was significantly consistent with MMQ and can be used as a reliable tool for evaluating dry/wet Mizaj (Temperament).