Researchers Modify VR Headset to Measure Brain Activity
Introduction
In a groundbreaking development, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have successfully modified a commercial virtual reality (VR) headset to measure brain activity. By adding a non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor to the Meta VR headset, the team has enabled the device to examine how individuals respond to cues, stressors, and other external forces in immersive virtual reality environments.
The Advantages of VR EEG Headsets
While the combination of VR and EEG sensors is not entirely new, the existing devices on the market are often expensive and uncomfortable for users. Traditional EEG devices consist of a cap covered with electrodes, which is not compatible with VR headsets. Additionally, the individual electrodes struggle to establish a strong connection with the scalp due to hair interference.
The researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have overcome these challenges by developing a spongy electrode made of soft conductive materials. This innovative electrode, created by research associate Hongbian Li, effectively connects to the skin, offering enhanced comfort and wearability. The modified VR headset features these soft electrodes on the top strap and forehead pad, flexible circuitry with conductive traces similar to electronic tattoos developed by Professor Nanshu Lu, and an EEG recording device attached to the back of the headset.
This breakthrough technology not only provides a more comfortable experience for users but also extends potential wear time and opens up a wide range of applications, from aiding individuals with anxiety to measuring attention and mental stress in aviators using flight simulators to even offering a unique perspective through the eyes of a robot.
Revolutionizing Healthcare and Mental Well-being
One of the most promising applications of the VR EEG headset is in the field of mental health. Virtual reality provides a highly immersive experience, allowing individuals to confront and manage their anxieties and phobias in a controlled environment. With the added EEG capability of the modified headset, therapists can now track brain activity and analyze how patients respond to different virtual stimuli. This has the potential to revolutionize the way anxiety disorders, phobias, and other mental health conditions are diagnosed and treated.
Furthermore, the VR EEG headset can be utilized to measure attention and mental stress levels in various scenarios. For example, aviators using flight simulators can now have their brain activity monitored, ensuring their cognitive state remains optimal during critical operations. Similarly, professionals in high-stress environments, such as emergency responders and air traffic controllers, can benefit from real-time brain activity measurements to identify signs of fatigue or mental overload.
Unveiling New Perspectives with Human-Robot Interactions
Integrating the VR EEG headset into the University of Texas at Austin’s ongoing research project, a new robot delivery network, promises to shed light on human-robot interactions in unprecedented ways. As part of this project, individuals traveling with robots or located in a remote “observatory” will have the opportunity to see through the robot’s perspective using the VR headset. This immersive experience not only allows operators to monitor the robots’ safety in potential accident situations but also provides valuable insights into how people react in such scenarios.
In addition, the VR EEG headset will measure the mental load of prolonged observation. This data will enable researchers to understand the cognitive impact of exerting focus and attention for extended periods, enhancing safety protocols and optimizing human-robot collaborations.
Collaboration and Future Possibilities
While the research team at the University of Texas at Austin has showcased the immense potential of their VR EEG headset, they are eager to collaborate with virtual reality companies to develop an integrated version of this technology. By joining forces, the researchers aim to create a more affordable and widely accessible product that can be seamlessly incorporated into various VR applications, expanding its reach and impact.
Evaluating Feasibility with Driving Simulation
To test the feasibility and effectiveness of the VR EEG headset, the researchers collaborated with experts in brain-machine interfaces to create a driving simulation. In this simulation, users were required to press a button to activate specific commands. By measuring the users’ brain activity during these driving decisions, the EEG provided valuable insights into their attention levels and cognitive engagement.
These initial experiments demonstrate the potential of the VR EEG headset to accurately measure and analyze brain activity in real-time. With further refinement and testing, this technology could have far-reaching implications in fields such as healthcare, mental well-being, human-robot interactions, and beyond.
Conclusion
The integration of an EEG sensor into a commercial VR headset marks a significant milestone in the field of immersive technologies. The modified VR EEG headset developed by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin offers enhanced comfort, improved usability, and greater potential for a wide range of applications. From revolutionizing mental health treatments to optimizing human-robot interactions, this innovative technology opens up new possibilities for understanding the human mind and its responses to external stimuli. As research continues, we eagerly anticipate future collaborations and advancements in this exciting field.
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Researchers have modified a commercial virtual reality headset, giving it the ability to measure brain activity and examine how we react to cues, stressors, and other external forces.
The research team at the University of Texas at Austin created a non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor that they installed in a Meta VR headset that can be worn comfortably for long periods. The EEG measures the electrical activity of the brain during immersive virtual reality interactions.
The device could be used in any number of ways, from helping people with anxiety, to measuring the attention or mental stress of aviators using a flight simulator, to giving a human the chance to see through the eyes of a human. robot.
“Virtual reality is much more immersive than just doing something on a big screen,” said Nanshu Lu, a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at the Cockrell School of Engineering who led the research. “It gives the user a more realistic experience, and our technology allows us to get better measurements of how the brain reacts to that environment.”
The research is published in soft science.
The pairing of VR and EEG sensors has already made its way into the commercial sphere. However, the devices that exist today are expensive, and the researchers say their electrodes are more comfortable for the user, extending potential wear time and opening up additional applications.
Today’s best EEG devices consist of a cap covered with electrodes, but that doesn’t work well with VR headsets. And the individual electrodes struggle to get a strong reading because our hair prevents them from connecting to the scalp. The most popular electrodes are rigid and comb-shaped, inserting through the hairs to connect with the skin, an uncomfortable experience for the user.
“All of these major options have significant flaws that we try to overcome with our system,” said Hongbian Li, a research associate in Lu’s lab.
For this project, the researchers created a spongy electrode made of soft conductive materials that overcomes those problems, an effort led by Li. The modified headset features electrodes on the top strap and forehead pad, flexible circuitry with conductive traces similar to Lu’s electronic tattoos, and an EEG recording device attached to the back of the headset.
This technology will play into another major research project at UT Austin: a new robot delivery network that will also serve as the largest study to date on human-robot interactions.
Lu is part of that project, and the VR headset will be used by people traveling with robots or in a remote “observatory.” They will be able to observe from the robot’s perspective, and the device will also measure the mental load of this observation over long periods.
“If you can see through the robot’s eyes, it paints a clearer picture of how people react and allows operators to monitor their safety in the event of potential accidents,” said Luis Sentis, a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. , who co-leads the robot delivery project and co-authored the VR EEG paper.
To test the feasibility of the VR EEG headset, the researchers created a game. They worked with José del R. Millán, a faculty member in the Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Dell Medical School and an expert in brain-machine interfaces, to develop a driving simulation in which the user press a button to react. to activate the commands.
The EEG measures users’ brain activity as they make driving decisions. In this case, it shows how closely the subjects are paying attention.
The researchers have filed preliminary patent documents for the EEG and are open to partnering with virtual reality companies to create an integrated version of the technology.
Other members of the research team include Hyonyoung Shin, Minsu Zhang, Nicholas Riveira, and Susmita Gangopadahyay of the Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Andrew Yu, Heeyong Huh, Zhengjie Li, and Yifan Rao from the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering; Sangjun Kim from Walker’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jessie Peng from the Department of Biomedical Engineering; and Gubeum Kwon of Artue Associates Inc. in South Korea.
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