Journal
BRAIN SCIENCES
Volume 11, Issue 3, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11030330
Keywords
QEEG; mobile EEG; PASAT; resting state; external validity
Categories
Funding
- Texas State University Department of Psychology, Faculty Research Award
- Texas State University Research Enhancement Program Award
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study compared EEG signals from human participants in controlled and uncontrolled environments, finding differences in neurocognitive states between the two. The results support the external validity of laboratory EEG power findings for complex and default neurocognitive states engaged within moderately uncontrolled environments.
Traditionally, quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) studies collect data within controlled laboratory environments that limit the external validity of scientific conclusions. To probe these validity limits, we used a mobile EEG system to record electrophysiological signals from human participants while they were located within a controlled laboratory environment and an uncontrolled outdoor environment exhibiting several moderate background influences. Participants performed two tasks during these recordings, one engaging brain activity related to several complex cognitive functions (number sense, attention, memory, executive function) and the other engaging two default brain states. We computed EEG spectral power over three frequency bands (theta: 4-7 Hz, alpha: 8-13 Hz, low beta: 14-20 Hz) where EEG oscillatory activity is known to correlate with the neurocognitive states engaged by these tasks. Null hypothesis significance testing yielded significant EEG power effects typical of the neurocognitive states engaged by each task, but only a beta-band power difference between the two background recording environments during the default brain state. Bayesian analysis showed that the remaining environment null effects were unlikely to reflect measurement insensitivities. This overall pattern of results supports the external validity of laboratory EEG power findings for complex and default neurocognitive states engaged within moderately uncontrolled environments.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available