Media Neuroscience on a Shoestring

Abstract

Abstract. Event-related potentials (ERPs) capture neural responses to media stimuli with a split-second resolution, opening the door to examining how attention modulates the reception process. However, the relatively high cost and difficulty of incorporating ERP methods have prevented broader adoption. This study tested the potential of a new mobile, relatively easy-to-mount, and highly affordable device for electroencephalography (EEG) measurement – the Muse EEG system – combined with a free, open-source platform for ERP recording and analysis. Specifically, we compared ERPs with affective visual stimuli – representative of the kind of engaging content that pervades modern social media. Our results confirm that the Muse system provides robust visual ERPs, highly reliable across two samples. Although there was no difference between ERPs to moderately positive and neutral stimuli in the expected time windows (200–300 ms, 400–600 ms), an exploratory analysis provided some evidence for differential processing of positive versus neutral images at the right temporal sensor site (TP10). Additionally, a compliance-gaining manipulation in participant instructions significantly improved data quality. These results support the use of the Muse EEG system in large-scale studies examining brain responses to screen media. They also suggest an easy social influence tactic that can enhance data quality as communication neuroscience is scaled up. The availability of a mobile EEG system for 250 USD makes it possible to incorporate neuroimaging into various communication paradigms beyond visual communication.

The Impact of Various Cockpit Display Interfaces on Novice Pilots’ Mental Workload and Situational Awareness: A Comparative Study

“…The headband sits on the subject's forehead (locations AF7 and AF8) and rests on the ears (TP9 and TP10), as shown in Figure 5, using the international 10-20 EEG placement system [42]. Several studies have raised concerns regarding the accuracy and correctness of Muse2's readings (e.g., [43]), but the device remains popular because it is highly portable, minimally invasive, easy to use and low in cost, especially when compared with clinical EEG systems [43]. Muse2 has been proven to be sensitive in monitoring users' brain activities [44].…”

Using measures of psychophysiological and neural activity to advance understanding of psychological processes in politics

“…To kill two birds (low N, high artificiality) with the same stone, we suggest looking into wearables. Wearables can measure skin conductance, heart rate and can be easily connected to questionnaires (Bolinski et al, 2021;Jahn, Meshi, Bente, & Schmälzle, 2022;Konvalinka et al, 2011).…”

A scalable and robust system for audience EEG recordings

“…So, in terms in participant preparation this headset is suitable for scaling up the number of recorded people. In terms of recorded brain signal quality, MUSE has been shown to be able to capture Event Related Potentials (ERPs) [ 10 , 17 , 18 ]. It has also been shown to be able to capture various aspects of induced and intrinsic brain activity in various aspects of human behavior, such as Stress [ 19 , 20 ], Attention [ 21 ], Meditation [ 22 , 23 ], Mindfulness [ 24 , 25 ], Rapid diagnosis of stroke [ 26 ], Drowsiness [ 9 ], Emotion Classification [ 27 ] and Fatigue [ 17 , 28 ].…”