Investigating Established EEG Parameter During Real-World Driving

Abstract

In real life, behavior is influenced by dynamically changing contextual factors and is rarely limited to simple tasks and binary choices. For a meaningful interpretation of brain dynamics underlying more natural cognitive processing in active humans, ecologically valid test scenarios are essential. To understand whether brain dynamics in restricted artificial lab settings reflect the neural activity in complex natural environments, we systematically tested the auditory event-related P300 in both settings. We developed an integrative approach comprising an initial P300-study in a highly controlled laboratory set-up and a subsequent validation within a realistic driving scenario. Using a simulated dialog with a speech-based input system, increased P300 amplitudes reflected processing of infrequent and incorrect auditory feedback events in both the laboratory setting and the real world setup. Environmental noise and movement-related activity in the car driving scenario led to higher data rejection rates but revealed comparable theta and alpha frequency band pattern. Our results demonstrate the possibility to investigate cognitive functions like context updating in highly artifact prone driving scenarios and encourage the consideration of more realistic task settings in prospective brain imaging approaches.

Mobile EEG identifies the re-allocation of attention during real-world activity

“…One striking implication of these findings is that attentional capture can be identified and measured in real-world contexts where reductions in attention really matter. For example, mobile EEG technology allows attentional capture to be monitored during simple but potentially dangerous activities like crossing the road, as well as during complex activities such as driving a car 46 or even piloting an aircraft 47 . Importantly, our findings highlight the possibility of quantifying the relative contribution of different sources of attentional capture in more complex real-world contexts, such as air-traffic control or tram driving, where identifying and removing detrimental sources of stimulation may make the difference between life and death.…”

Investigating real-life emotions in romantic couples: a mobile EEG study

“…These technological advancements have been developed and optimized to allow for the investigation of neural correlates in settings of high ecological validity as the participants can move freely and be tested outside the lab. While the number of publications using these techniques are still sparse, a growing body of research is being generated converging neuroscientific research with real-life activities such as cycling 32 , 33 , walking 34 , navigating over obstacles 35 , real world driving 36 , viewing real-life faces in natural settings 37 or skateboarding 38 . Recently, Packheiser and colleagues 39 investigated the neural basis of hand and foot use while the participants were wearing a mobile EEG.…”

Identifying key factors for improving ICA-based decomposition of EEG data in mobile and stationary experiments

“…Gramann et al, 2010;De Sanctis et al, 2014;Ehinger et al, 2014;Gehrke et al, 2018;Djebbara et al, 2019) and in the real world, which increases our understanding of human brain dynamics accompanying embodied cognitive processes as well as the impact of real world environments (e.g. Debener et al, 2012;Wascher et al, 2014;Ladouce et al, 2017;Protzak and Gramann, 2018;Wunderlich and Gramann, 2018). While these experimental protocols provide new insights into the neural activity subserving cognition in more realistic and natural settings, they present new challenges.…”