Mobile Brain/Body Imaging (MoBI): Challenges and opportunities for the implementation of research programs based on the 4E perspective to cognition

Abstract

Recent developments in psychology and neuroscience have greatly advanced our understanding of cognition. But while classical laboratory experiments have been crucial to informing models of brain functioning, these types of experiments generally do not capture the experiences of the real world and therefore lack ecological validity. Due to the nature of study designs, an understanding of the dynamics of the brain/body system in action in the world has been missing. However, new epistemological and methodological approaches promise a radical solution to this problem.This paper begins by briefly presenting the target theoretical framework for this special edition, which matches the theoretical needs of recent technological advancements in the field of Mobile Brain/Body Imaging (MoBI). We provide empirical evidence to justify the paradigmatic change and review the technological developments which made it possible. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities for research programs based on this paradigm.

The holobiont mind: A bridge between 4E cognition and the microbiome

“…Creating a distributed—yet integrated and contextualized—neurosomatic system is capable of ensuring internal dynamical regularities afforded by the ever-changing internal and external environments. Importantly, recent work focusing on cardiovascular and respiratory systems (Chen et al, 2020; Kandasamy et al, 2016; Mai et al, 2018; Park et al, 2018; Richter and Tallon-Baudry 2016; Varga and Heck 2017), as well as mobile brain/body imaging (MoBI) (Djebbara et al, 2019; Shamay-Tsoory and Mendelsohn 2019; Wunderlich and Gramann 2020), has provided relevant evidence supporting the 4E perspective (Parada & Rossi., 2020; Parada et al, n.d.). Yet, the holobiont and its microbial dynamics have not been understood from the 4E perspective (Palacios-García & Parada, 2019).…”

Environmental noise is differently associated with negative and positive urban experience: an exploratory first-person pedestrian mobile study in Santiago de Chile (El ruido medioambiental se asocia de una manera diferente a la experiencia urbana negativa y positiva: un estudio exploratorio en movimiento de peatones en primera persona realizado en Santiago de Chile)

“…EEG impedances were adjusted and the eyetracker was calibrated following standardized manufacturer's instructions. However, final recordings were not included in our analysis, due to large artefactual signals and extended periods of missing data (Parada, Grasso-Cladera, Rossi, Costa-Cordella, & Fuchs, 2020). Eye-tracker calibration consisted of staring at a manufacturer-provided calibration card held in front of the participant until the calibration was successful.…”

“…Las impedancias del EEG fueron reguladas y el rastreador ocular fue calibrado según las instrucciones estandarizadas del fabricante. No obstante, las grabaciones finales no se incluyeron en nuestro análisis debido a las intensas señales emitidas por los artefactos y a los extensos periodos de datos perdidos (Parada, Grasso-Cladera, Rossi, Costa-Cordella, & Fuchs, 2020). La calibración del rastreador ocular consistió en mirar una tarjeta de calibración proporcionada por el fabricante, sostenida frente al participante hasta que se consiguió la calibración adecuada.…”

Aiming at ecological validity—Midfrontal theta oscillations in a toy gun shooting task

“…When examining cognition, neuroscientists traditionally try to isolate cognitive processes in order to exclude disturbing influences. Advances in neuroscientific technology enable us to transfer the knowledge gained in the laboratory into more ecologically valid settings and to investigate to what extent these neuronal processes occur under less controlled circumstances (Ladouce et al., 2016; Parada et al., 2020).…”

“…When examining cognition, neuroscientists traditionally try to isolate cognitive processes in order to exclude disturbing influences. Advances in neuroscientific technology enable us to transfer the knowledge gained in the laboratory into more ecologically valid settings and to investigate to what extent these neuronal processes occur under less controlled circumstances (Ladouce et al, 2016;Parada et al, 2020).One aspect that has been more or less neglected within this approach so far is that of performance monitoring. Successful goal-directed behaviour requires continuous assessment of ongoing actions and their consequences.…”