electroencephalogram (eeg) and electrocardiogram (ecg) sensor application for the caregiver for home-based eeg hyperscanning

婴儿与照顾者互动中的真实 EEG 和 ECG 同步

With the simultaneous recording of brain activities from two or more interacting subjects, also known as hyperscanning, it has become possible to elucidate the neural basis of social interactions in their complex, bidirectional, and fast-paced dynamics1. This technique has shifted the focus from studying individuals in isolated, tightly controlled settings to examining more naturalistic interactions, such as parent-child interactions during free play2,3, puzzle-solving4, and cooperative computer games5,6. These studies demonstrate that brain activities synchronize during social interactions, i.e., show temporal similarities, a phenomenon termed interpersonal neural synchrony (INS). However, the great majority of hyperscanning studies have been confined to laboratory settings. While this allows for better experimental control, it may come at the expense of losing some ecological validity. Behaviors observed in the laboratory may not be representative of the participants&#39; typical everyday interactive behaviors due to the unfamiliar and artificial setting and the nature of the tasks imposed7.
Recent advances in mobile neuroimaging devices, such as electroencephalography (EEG) or functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), alleviate these issues by removing the requirement for participants to remain physically connected to the recording computer. Thus, they allow us to measure participants&#39; brain activities while they interact freely in the classroom or in their homes8,9. The advantage of EEG compared to other neuroimaging techniques, such as fNIRS, is that it has an excellent temporal resolution, which makes it particularly suitable for investigating fast-paced social dynamics10. Yet, it comes with the caveat that the EEG signal is highly vulnerable to motion and other physiological and non-physiological artifacts11.
Despite this, the first studies have successfully implemented EEG hyperscanning set-ups in realistic environments and conditions. For instance, Dikker et al.12 measured the EEG signal of a group of students while they engaged in various classroom activities, including attending lectures, watching videos, and participating in group discussions. This study, along with other studies8,9, has predominantly utilized dry EEG electrodes to ease the process of conducting measurements in non-laboratory settings. Compared to wet electrodes, which require the application of conductive gel or paste, dry electrodes offer notable advantages in terms of usability. They have been shown to exhibit comparable performance to wet electrodes in adult populations and stationary conditions; however, their performance may decrease in motion-related scenarios due to increased impedance levels13.
Here, we present a working protocol to capture synchronized recordings from a low-density seven-channel liquid gel EEG system with a single lead electrocardiography (ECG) connected to the same wireless amplifier (sampling rate: 500 Hz)&#160;of infant-caregiver dyads in a home setting. While active electrodes were used for adults, passive electrodes were used instead for infants since the latter typically comes in the form of ring electrodes, thereby easing the process of gel application. Additionally, EEG-ECG recordings were synchronized to three cameras and microphones to capture the participants&#39; behaviors from different angles. In the study, 8-12-month-old infants and their caregivers engaged in a reading and play task while their EEG, ECG, and behaviors were recorded. To minimize the impact of excessive movement on EEG signal quality, the tasks were conducted in a table-top setting (e.g., utilizing the kitchen table and an infant highchair), requiring participants to remain seated throughout the interaction task. Caregivers were provided with three age-appropriate books and table-top toys (equipped with suction cups to prevent them from falling). They were instructed to read to their child for approximately 5 min, followed by a 10 min play session with the toys.
This protocol details the methods for collecting synchronized EEG-ECG, video, and audio data during the reading and play tasks. The overall procedure, however, is not specific to this research design but is appropriate for different populations (e.g., parent-child dyads, friend dyads) and experimental tasks. The method of synchronization of different data streams will be presented. Further, a basic EEG preprocessing pipeline based on Dikker et al.12 will be outlined, and EEG data retention rates and quality control metrics will be reported. Since the specific analytical choices depend on a variety of factors (such as task design, research questions, EEG montage), hyperscanning-EEG analysis will not be detailed further, but instead, the reader will be referred to existing guidelines and toolboxes (e.g.,14 for guidelines;15,16 for hyperscanning analysis toolboxes). Finally, the protocol discusses challenges and potential solutions for EEG-ECG hyperscanning in the home and other real-world settings.

作者聚焦：通过同步多模态数据收集捕获婴儿与照顾者的互动

用于婴儿与照顾者社交互动的家庭脑电图超扫描

Our research aims to study how social interactions between infants and caregivers can impact the infant's learning and development. We have developed a comprehensive hyperscanning protocol to capture synchronized EEG, ECG, and behavioral recordings from infant-caregiver dyads during interactive play tasks in the family home. Unlike prior hyperscanning protocols, which have primarily been conducted in laboratory environments, our experiment is conducted in the home setting.One key experimental challenge is balancing the need for standardization across home environments, which can limit ecological validity, with the flexibility required to promote naturalistic interactions between participants. This protocol offers unique insights into addressing potential issues and critical considerations regarding the experimental setup, tasks, and data collection in home settings. Additionally, our protocol provides a detailed demonstration of the design and setup of the multimodal synchronization of EEG, ECG, video and audio data into a single timeline.

脑电图 （EEG） 和心电图 （ECG） 传感器在家庭 EEG 超扫描护理人员中的应用

首先，将护理人员的放大器存放在 EEG 帽的后袋中，以尽量减少电缆移动并降低 EEG 噪声。戴上盖子前，请检查 amp升压器是否安全存放和连接。戴上手套并获得护理人员的许可后，使用含有 70% 异丙醇的酒精棉签清洁护理人员的额头。沿着自然发际线将耳朵顶部两侧的头发分开，露出护理人员的耳朵。要测量护理人员的头围，请将卷尺放在鼻孔周围，越过头顶以及左右 dragus 之间。现在使用类似皇冠的手势，从内侧拉伸 EEG 帽。开始将帽子从护理人员的额头朝向后脑勺。然后握住带子，不要松开盖子。将它们向下拉到下巴并固定钩环末端。去除护理人员脸上的任何刘海或头发，以避免不适或视力障碍。然后轻轻抚平盖子，以确保电极与头皮紧密接触并消除盖子上的任何皱纹。接下来，将卷尺放在中线的电极上，测量从鼻孔到离子的距离。如有必要，使用 scrunch and release 方法调整盖子。然后测量左右 dragus 之间的距离，以确保 CZ 电极位于此测量的中点。首先将凝胶涂在参比电极和接地电极上，然后继续从背面的电极开始对剩余的电极进行凝胶化。给护理人员涂抹凝胶时，请使用尖端更长、更细的注射器。将注射器的尖端插入电极开口，并使用底部曲线将头发分开。取出注射器时分配少量凝胶。将凝胶涂抹在被动婴儿帽电极上时，用凝胶填充所有电极开口，然后使用棉签以轻柔的左向右动作分开头发。为了改善电极接触，请使用光作为阻抗参考指南或参考 EEG 记录软件读数。在所有 EEG 电极上实现低阻抗后，用酒精湿巾清洁参与者左锁骨下方的柔软区域。将圆形胶带贴在 ECG 电极的底部，并涂抹足够的凝胶以很好地覆盖电极。将电极放在左锁骨下方的柔软区域，并用白色遮蔽胶带将其固定在传感器上。

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Electroencephalogram (EEG) and Electrocardiogram (ECG) Sensor Application for the Caregiver for Home-Based EEG Hyperscanning

Real-Life EEG and ECG Synchronization in Infant-Caregiver Interactions

Home-Based EEG Hyperscanning for Infant-Caregiver Social Interactions

Author Spotlight: Capturing Infant-Caregiver Interactions Through Synchronized Multimodal Data Collection

Prior hyperscanning studies that record the brain activities of caregivers and children concurrently have primarily been conducted within the confines of ...

科研

神经科学

Experiment Preparation at the Participant&#39;s Home for Home-Based Electroencephalography (EEG) Hyperscanning

在参与者家中为家庭脑电图 （EEG） 超扫描做准备实验

Sensor Streams Synchronization of Electroencephalography (EEG), Electrocardiography (ECG) in Natural Settings for Caregiver-Child Interaction Studies

自然环境中脑电图 （EEG）、心电图 （ECG） 的传感器流同步，用于照顾者与儿童互动研究

脑电图 （EEG） 和心电图 （ECG） 传感器在家庭 EEG 超扫描护理人员中的应用

脑电图（EEG）和心电图（ECG）传感器在家庭 EEG 超扫描护理人员中的应用