An Immersive Virtual Reality Platform Integrating Human ECOG & sEEG:
Implementation & Noise Analysis
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) offers a robust platform for human behavioral
neuroscience, granting unprecedented experimental control over every
aspect of an immersive and interactive visual environment. VR
experiments have already integrated non-invasive neural recording
modalities such as EEG and functional MRI to explore the neural
correlates of human behavior and cognition. Integration with implanted
electrodes would enable significant increase in spatial and temporal
resolution of recorded neural signals and the option of direct brain
stimulation for neurofeedback. In this paper, we discuss the first such
implementation of a VR platform with implanted electrocorticography
(ECoG) and stereo?electroencephalography (sEEG) electrodes in human,
in-patient subjects. Noise analyses were performed to evaluate the
effect of the VR headset on neural data collected in two VR-naïve
subjects, one child and one adult, including both ECOG and sEEG
electrodes. Results demonstrate an increase in line noise power
(57-63Hz) while wearing the VR headset that is mitigated effectively by
common average referencing (CAR), and no significant change in the
noise floor bandpower (125-240Hz). To our knowledge, this study
represents first demonstrations of VR immersion during invasive neural
recording with in-patient human subjects.