Neural Dynamics of Target Detection via Wireless EEG in Embodied Cognition.

Congying He,Chia-Lung Yeh,Rupesh Kumar Chikara,Li-Wei Ko

doi:10.3390/s21155213

Abstract

Embodied cognitive attention detection is important for many real-world applications, such as monitoring attention in daily driving and studying. Exploring how the brain and behavior are influenced by visual sensory inputs becomes a major challenge in the real world. The neural activity of embodied mind cognitive states can be understood through simple symbol experimental design. However, searching for a particular target in the real world is more complicated than during a simple symbol experiment in the laboratory setting. Hence, the development of realistic situations for investigating the neural dynamics of subjects during real-world environments is critical. This study designed a novel military-inspired target detection task for investigating the neural activities of performing embodied cognition tasks in the real-world setting. We adopted independent component analysis (ICA) and electroencephalogram (EEG) dipole source localization methods to study the participant’s event-related potentials (ERPs), event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP), and power spectral density (PSD) during the target detection task using a wireless EEG system, which is more convenient for real-life use. Behavioral results showed that the response time in the congruent condition (582 ms) was shorter than those in the incongruent (666 ms) and nontarget (863 ms) conditions. Regarding the EEG observation, we observed N200-P300 wave activation in the middle occipital lobe and P300-N500 wave activation in the right frontal lobe and left motor cortex, which are associated with attention ERPs. Furthermore, delta (1–4 Hz) and theta (4–7 Hz) band powers in the right frontal lobe, as well as alpha (8–12 Hz) and beta (13–30 Hz) band powers in the left motor cortex were suppressed, whereas the theta (4–7 Hz) band powers in the middle occipital lobe were increased considerably in the attention task. Experimental results showed that the embodied body function influences human mental states and psychological performance under cognition attention tasks. These neural markers will be also feasible to implement in the real-time brain computer interface. Novel findings in this study can be helpful for humans to further understand the interaction between the brain and behavior in multiple target detection conditions in real life.

Highlights

Embodied cognition is a theoretical concept that assumes cognitive functions are closely related to the body and physical behavior [1,2]
We used ANOVA1 and post hoc comparisons to analyze the significant differences in reaction times (RT) among the three conditions
For the first time, we investigated the event-related potentials (ERPs) neural markers of the frontal lobe (N500), left motor cortex (N500 and P300), and middle occipital lobe (N200 and P300) of the brain

Summary

Introduction

Embodied cognition is a theoretical concept that assumes cognitive functions are closely related to the body and physical behavior [1,2]. In traditional cognitive model experiments, such as symbolic mental representations governed by logical and computational rules, the body only responds to information received by the senses. Embodied cognition argues that the physicality of the body in action is not merely a vehicle for logical and computational process, and the co-producer of the cognitive process [1]. The body reflects the state of the mind to some extent. Hand movements play a cognitive role in language development when speaking, while gestures and finger counting help to express mathematical concepts. Embodied cognition is a highly flexible and complex mechanism, and it is difficult to explain this phenomenon with a single experiment, but it could be observed through experiments on cognition and physical behavior [1,3]

Methods

Results

Conclusion