Impact of 2D and 3D display watching on EEG power spectra: A standardized low-resolution tomography (sLORETA) study

We investigated whether watching two-dimensional television (2DTV) or three-dimensional television (3DTV) resulted in differences in the brain?s processing of sensory information. We divided 25 participants into 2DTV (n = 13) and 3DTV (n = 12) groups. Participants watched 2DTV or 3DTV for 1, 2, or 3 h on different days. Before and at the end of each session, electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded for 10 min. The Simulation Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were used to assess general discomfort before and after watching. Each frequency band of the resting EEG was transformed into a standardized low-resolution electromagnetic tomographic (sLORETA) image. In the 2DTV group, 2 h of watching increased theta power in the central cortex and 3 h of watching increased beta power in the occipital cortex. In the 3DTV group, 3 h of watching increased delta power in the parahippocampal gyrus and middle frontal cortex. Theta power was significantly higher in the insular cortex after 3 h of 3DTV than after 3 h of 2DTV. SSQ scores were significantly higher after 1 h of 2DTV than after 1 h of 3DTV. Watching 2DTV vs. 3DTV triggered different time-dependent activity patterns. Watching 3DTV for 3 h increased slow-wave activity in the prefrontal cortex, while watching 2DTV increased fast-wave activity in the occipitoparietal cortex. Up to 2 h of 3DTV watching did not cause major changes in fatigue or EEG activity compared with 2DTV. Our findings promise to be useful in designing safety guidelines for watching 3DTV.

Automated summary

This study investigated the differences in brain processing of sensory information while watching 2DTV and 3DTV. The findings showed that watching different types of television can lead to changes in brain wave activity, with watching 3DTV increasing slow-wave activity. Prolonged viewing of 3DTV may lead to an increase in symptoms of simulation sickness.