The present invention relates to a device and a method for extracting physiological information from remotely detected electromagnetic radiation emitted or reflected by a subject. A data stream derivable from electromagnetic radiation emitted or reflected by a subject is received. The data stream comprises a sequence of signal samples indicative of desired subject motion and of disturbing motion. The signal samples represent at least one region of interest exhibiting an at least partially periodic indicative motion pattern attributable to at least one physiological parameter, and a non-indicative motion region. The sequence of signal samples is processed, comprising deriving a sequence of derivative motion compensated samples at least partially compensated for undesired overall motion; detecting an evaluation parameter representative of motion compensation accuracy; and deriving at least one characteristic signal at least partially indicative of the at least partially periodic indicative motion pattern from the sequence of motion compensated samples, wherein deriving the characteristic signal is performed depending on the detected evaluation parameter.