Capturing cognitive events embedded in the real-world using mobile EEG and Eye-Tracking

The study of cognitive processes underlying natural behaviours implies to depart from computerized paradigms and artificial experimental probes. The aim of the present study is to assess the feasibility of capturing neural markers of visual attention (P300 Event-Related Potentials) in response to objects embedded in a real-world environment. To this end, electroencephalography and eye-tracking data were recorded while participants attended stimuli presented on a tablet and while they searched for books in a library. Initial analyses of the library data revealed P300-like features shifted in time. A Dynamic Time Warping analysis confirmed the presence of P300 ERP in the library condition. Library data were then lag-corrected based on cross-correlation co-efficients. Together these approaches uncovered P300 ERP responses in the library recordings. These findings high-light the relevance of scalable experimental designs, joint brain and body recordings and template-matching analyses to capture cognitive events during natural behaviours.