Neural state monitoring via auditory evoked potentials in Ear EEG

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As part of a multi-disciplinary research initiative, in which ear EEG will be used to derive bio-markers of performance and decision making in a multi-task driving simulator environment [10], the feasibility of phase information from ASSR being used in the context of neural state evaluation and prediction can be tested. Below is the experimental structure to be followed:Experiment 1Verification of ASSR phase synchrony measurement from ear EEG under cognitive workload tests. Research question of interest: Can the phase synchrony modulation of ASSR be detected from the ear? Experiment details: Participants will be asked to complete a set of N-back memory tasks of increasing complexity, while the ASSR is recorded. Phase properties of the ear and scalp ASSR will be analysed to probe correlations with cognitive workload.Experiment 2A study of performance enhancements in the driving simulator environmentResearch question of interest: What is the effect of multi-sensory performance enhancements on cognitive workload, physiological signals variability and performance of the participant?Experiment details: Subjects will be provided with combinations of visual/auditory aids and their impact over performance will be analysed.Experiment 3Measure the ASSR of a subject in the driving simulator environmentResearch question of interest: Does the ASSR reflect changes in cognitive workload?Experiment details:The ASSR will be recorded whilst the difficulty and complexity of primary, secondary and tertiary tasks are increased in a set of experiments, in the absence of performance enhancing aids.Experiment 4Measure the ASSR of a participant in the driving simulator environmentResearch question of interest: Does the ASSR reflect changes in mental fatigue?Experiment details: The ASSR will be recorded whilst mental fatigue is induced in the participant during the same protocol used in Experiment 2.Experiment 5Close the loop in the driving simulator environmentResearch question of interest: Can the workload be altered as a function of the current state of the driver to improve their performance?Experiment details: The experimental environment will be the same as in Experiment 1 and 3, with the inclusion of a closed-loop system able to identify the level of cognitive workload experienced by the driver and act upon it.