sensor streams synchronization of electroencephalography (eeg), electrocardiography (ecg) in natural settings for caregiver-child interaction studies

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.

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

为家庭脑电图超扫描安排必要的设置后，让护理人员为该程序做好准备。然后，将麦克风接收器连接到其各自的摄录机，以自动同步视频和音频。将麦克风发射器连接到看护人上衣的衣领和婴儿背心上。确保摄像机的位置能够捕获来自房间内触发盒的 LED 光信号后，开始在所有三台摄录机上录制。在笔记本电脑上启动脑电图记录，并为婴儿和看护者启动放大器。使用 2.5 毫米插孔，将两个放大器连接到触发盒，确保紧密连接。长按按钮，因为只有长按时标记外观的明显差异才会明显。验证来自触发框的 LED 信号是否在所有摄像机的录像中可见。检查笔记本电脑上正在进行的脑电图记录中的同步标记。之后，将放大器从触发盒设置中分离出来。在进行实验任务时，确保所有实验者在整个实验过程中都隐藏在婴儿的视线之外，以避免分心。如果出现任何传感器流问题，应有一名实验人员带着记录笔记本电脑留在附近进行干预。停止在摄像机、EEG 软件和放大器上录制。然后，关闭放大器并将其从盖子上拆下。之后，小心地取下心电图带和电极，从护理人员开始。如有必要，协助照护者取出婴儿的心电图。然后，解开盖子的钩环末端。将盖子向后撕下，将其翻过来。用婴儿湿巾清洁婴儿头部的凝胶残留物，然后再取下看护人的盖子。

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

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

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

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

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

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

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