Neurocognitive Assessment Software for Enrichment Sensory Environments

Abstract

In cases with sensory processing dysfunctions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cognitive decline like Alzheimer's disease (AD), optimistic neurological improvements have been recorded after systematic sensorimotor enrichment stimulation and art therapeutic procedures. While art therapy may offer a cognitive-behavioral breakthrough, several latest studies have explored the effectiveness of brain signals representations through audio and visual transformations of electroencephalography (EEG) measurements and the necessity of neurological evaluation of sensory integration therapies. In this technical report, new software based on the JAVA and processing programming language is presented, that detects, displays and analyzes EEG signals for individual or a group of patients. This neuroinformatics software offers a digital painting environment and a real time transformation of EEG signals into adjustable music volume and octave configuration per electrode, for the real time observation and evaluation of therapeutic procedures. The EEG acquisition is wireless, therefore, brain data can also be collected from the application of other sensory or sensorimotor therapeutic sessions as well. The Neurocognitive Assessment Software for Enrichment Sensory Environments (NASESE) includes two main functionalities, organized in five different modules. The first functionality includes recording, filtering and visualization of the EEG signals exported to a rotating 3D brain model and a real-time transformation of brain activity to sound sculptures, while the second functionality generates statistical tests and coherence calculation in a fully customizable computerized environment.