Mustile, M. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2021

Capturing cognitive events embedded in the real-world using mobile EEG and Eye-Tracking

The study of cognitive processes underlying natural behaviours implies to depart from computerized paradigms and artificial experimental probes. The aim of the present study is to assess the feasibility of capturing neural markers of visual attention (P300 Event-Related Potentials) in response to objects embedded in a real-world environment. To this end, electroencephalography and eye-tracking data were recorded while participants attended stimuli presented on a tablet and while they searched for books in a library. Initial analyses of the library data revealed P300-like features shifted in time. A Dynamic Time Warping analysis confirmed the presence of P300 ERP in the library condition. Library data were then lag-corrected based on cross-correlation co-efficients. Together these approaches uncovered P300 ERP responses in the library recordings. These findings high-light the relevance of scalable experimental designs, joint brain and body recordings and template-matching analyses to capture cognitive events during natural behaviours.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Mobile EEG reveals functionally dissociable dynamic processes supporting real-world ambulatory obstacle avoidance: Evidence for early proactive control

The ability to safely negotiate the world on foot takes years to develop in human infants, reflecting the huge cognitive demands associated with real-time dynamic planning and control of walking. Despite the importance of walking, surprisingly little is known about the neural and cognitive processes that support ambulatory motor control in humans. In particular, methodological limitations have, to date, largely prevented study of the neural processes involved in detecting and avoiding obstacles during walking. Here, using mobile EEG during real-world ambulatory obstacle avoidance, we captured the dynamic oscillatory response to changes in the environment. Time-frequency analysis of EEG data revealed clear neural markers of proactive and reactive forms of movement control (occurring before and after crossing an obstacle), visible as increases in frontal theta and centro-parietal beta power respectively. Critically, the temporal profile of changes in frontal theta allowed us to arbitrate between early selection and late correction mechanisms of proactive control: our data show that motor plans are updated as soon as an upcoming obstacle appears, rather than when the obstacle is reached, as previously thought. In addition, regardless of whether motor plans required updating, a clear beta rebound was present after obstacles were crossed, reflecting the resetting of the motor system. Overall, our use of mobile EEG during real-world walking provides novel insight into the cognitive and neural basis of dynamic motor control in humans, suggesting new routes to the monitoring and rehabilitation of motor disorders such as dyspraxia and Parkinsons disease.

neuroscience↗