1
|
Lingelbach K, Dreyer AM, Schöllhorn I, Bui M, Weng M, Diederichs F, Rieger JW, Petermann-Stock I, Vukelić M. Brain Oscillation Entrainment by Perceptible and Non-perceptible Rhythmic Light Stimulation. Front Neurogenom 2021; 2:646225. [PMID: 38235231 PMCID: PMC10790848 DOI: 10.3389/fnrgo.2021.646225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Objective and Background: Decades of research in the field of steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) have revealed great potential of rhythmic light stimulation for brain-computer interfaces. Additionally, rhythmic light stimulation provides a non-invasive method for entrainment of oscillatory activity in the brain. Especially effective protocols enabling non-perceptible rhythmic stimulation and, thereby, reducing eye fatigue and user discomfort are favorable. Here, we investigate effects of (1) perceptible and (2) non-perceptible rhythmic light stimulation as well as attention-based effects of the stimulation by asking participants to focus (a) on the stimulation source directly in an overt attention condition or (b) on a cross-hair below the stimulation source in a covert attention condition. Method: SSVEPs at 10 Hz were evoked with a light-emitting diode (LED) driven by frequency-modulated signals and amplitudes of the current intensity either below or above a previously estimated individual threshold. Furthermore, we explored the effect of attention by asking participants to fixate on the LED directly in the overt attention condition and indirectly attend it in the covert attention condition. By measuring electroencephalography, we analyzed differences between conditions regarding the detection of reliable SSVEPs via the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and functional connectivity in occipito-frontal(-central) regions. Results: We could observe SSVEPs at 10 Hz for the perceptible and non-perceptible rhythmic light stimulation not only in the overt but also in the covert attention condition. The SNR and SSVEP amplitudes did not differ between the conditions and SNR values were in all except one participant above significance thresholds suggested by previous literature indicating reliable SSVEP responses. No difference between the conditions could be observed in the functional connectivity in occipito-frontal(-central) regions. Conclusion: The finding of robust SSVEPs even for non-intrusive rhythmic stimulation protocols below an individual perceptibility threshold and without direct fixation on the stimulation source reveals strong potential as a safe stimulation method for oscillatory entrainment in naturalistic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Lingelbach
- Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering, Human-Technology Interaction, Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Psychology, European Medical School, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Alexander M. Dreyer
- Department of Psychology, European Medical School, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Isabel Schöllhorn
- Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Transfaculty Research Platform Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael Bui
- Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering, Human-Technology Interaction, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Michael Weng
- Volkswagen AG, Group Innovation, Wolfsburg, Germany
| | - Frederik Diederichs
- Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering, Human-Technology Interaction, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jochem W. Rieger
- Department of Psychology, European Medical School, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | | | - Mathias Vukelić
- Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering, Human-Technology Interaction, Stuttgart, Germany
| |
Collapse
|