@article{jang2024enhancing,

title = {Enhancing Student Learning in Virtual Classrooms: Effects of Window View Content and Time of Day},

author = {Dajeong Jang and Han-Jong Kim and Kyungah Choi},

doi = {10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3476982},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-10-09},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {IEEE Access},

publisher = {IEEE},

abstract = {As virtual classrooms, traditional physical classroom environments are transformed into flexible virtual environments, allowing customization of environmental elements to enhance student learning. This study explored the effects of window settings in virtual classrooms on learning experiences of students. Utilizing a within-subjects design, we simulated a virtual classroom environment with seven unique window settings and varied its view content (nature vs. urban) and time of day (daytime, sunset, and night). We also simulated a windowless condition. Thirty-five university students participated in the study and performed subjective evaluations and cognitive tasks. Moreover, their physiological responses were recorded using electroencephalogram measurements. The results indicated that environments with windows increased the perception of spaciousness and promoted a state of relaxed alertness, as evidenced by increased fast alpha brainwave activity. In contrast, settings without windows or with urban views increased the sense of presence. Daytime views positively affected valence, motivation, spaciousness, and concentration, whereas nighttime views were the least preferred. No significant differences were observed in cognitive task performance across the different conditions. These findings underscore the necessity of customizing virtual learning environments to meet individual user needs. By allowing students to adjust their virtual environments, educators and space designers can create more flexible and personalized virtual-reality educational spaces, ultimately improving learning outcomes.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{harel2024task,

title = {Task-guided attention increases non-linearity of steady-state visually evoked potentials},

author = {Asaf Harel and Oren Shriki},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ad8032},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-09-26},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Neural Engineering},

abstract = {Attention is a multifaceted cognitive process, with nonlinear dynamics playing a crucial role. In this study, we investigated the involvement of nonlinear processes in top-down visual attention by employing a contrast-modulated sequence of letters and numerals, encircled by a consistently flickering white square on a black background - a setup that generated steady-state visually evoked potentials. Nonlinear processes are recognized for eliciting and modulating the harmonics of constant frequencies. We examined the fundamental and harmonic frequencies of each stimulus to evaluate the underlying nonlinear dynamics during stimulus processing. In line with prior research, our findings indicate that the power spectrum density of EEG responses is influenced by both task presence and stimulus contrast. By utilizing the Rhythmic Entrainment Source Separation (RESS) technique, we discovered that actively searching for a target within a letter stream heightened the amplitude of the fundamental frequency and harmonics related to the background flickering stimulus. While the fundamental frequency amplitude remained unaffected by stimulus contrast, a lower contrast led to an increase in the second harmonic's amplitude. We assessed the relationship between the contrast response function and the nonlinear-based harmonic responses. Our findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the nonlinear processes impacting top-down visual attention while also providing insights into optimizing brain-computer interfaces.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{cha2024effect,

title = {Effect of Electroencephalography-based Motor Imagery Neurofeedback on Mu Suppression During Motor Attempt in Patients with Stroke},

author = {Seungwoo Cha and Kyoung Tae Kim and Won Kee Chang and Nam-Jong Paik and Ji Soo Choi and Hyunmi Lim and Won-Seok Kim and Jeonghun Ku},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5106561/v1},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-09-26},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation },

abstract = {Objective

The primary aims of this study were to explore the neurophysiological effects of motor imagery neurofeedback using electroencephalography (EEG), specifically focusing on mu suppression during serial motor attempts and assessing its potential benefits in patients with subacute stroke.



Methods

A total of 15 patients with hemiplegia following subacute ischemic stroke were prospectively enrolled in this randomized cross-over study. This study comprised two experiments: neurofeedback and sham. Each experiment included four blocks: three blocks of resting, grasp, resting, and intervention, followed by one block of resting and grasp. During the resting sessions, the participants fixated on a white cross on a black background for 2 minutes without moving their upper extremities. In the grasp sessions, the participants were instructed to grasp and release their paretic hand at a frequency of about 1 Hz for 3 minutes while fixating on the same white cross. During the intervention sessions, neurofeedback involved presenting a punching image with the affected upper limb corresponding to the mu suppression induced by imagined movement, while the sham involved mu suppression of other randomly selected participants 3 minutes. EEG data were recorded during the experiment, and data from C3/C4 and P3/P4 were used for analyses to compare the degree of mu suppression between the neurofeedback and sham conditions.



Results

Significant mu suppression was observed in the bilateral motor and parietal cortices during the neurofeedback intervention compared with the sham condition across serial sessions (p < 0.001). Following neurofeedback, the real grasping sessions showed progressive strengthening of mu suppression in the ipsilesional motor cortex and bilateral parietal cortices compared to those following sham (p < 0.05), an effect not observed in the contralesional motor cortex.



Conclusion

Motor imagery neurofeedback significantly enhances mu suppression in the ipsilesional motor and bilateral parietal cortices during motor attempts in patients with subacute stroke. These findings suggest that motor imagery neurofeedback could serve as a promising adjunctive therapy to enhance motor-related cortical activity and support motor rehabilitation in patients with stroke.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{al2024disrupted,

title = {Disrupted brain functional connectivity as early signature in cognitively healthy individuals with pathological CSF amyloid/tau},

author = {Abdulhakim Al-Ezzi and Rebecca J Arechavala and Ryan Butler and Anne Nolty and Jimmy J Kang and Shinsuke Shimojo and Daw-An Wu and Alfred N Fonteh and Michael T Kleinman and Robert A Kloner and others},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06673-w},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-08-23},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Communications Biology},

volume = {7},

number = {1},

pages = {1037},

publisher = {Nature Publishing Group UK London},

abstract = {Alterations in functional connectivity (FC) have been observed in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with elevated amyloid (Aβ) and tau. However, it is not yet known whether directed FC is already influenced by Aβ and tau load in cognitively healthy (CH) individuals. A 21-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) was used from 46 CHs classified based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ tau ratio: pathological (CH-PAT) or normal (CH-NAT). Directed FC was estimated with Partial Directed Coherence in frontal, temporal, parietal, central, and occipital regions. We also examined the correlations between directed FC and various functional metrics, including neuropsychology, cognitive reserve, MRI volumetrics, and heart rate variability between both groups. Compared to CH-NATs, the CH-PATs showed decreased FC from the temporal regions, indicating a loss of relative functional importance of the temporal regions. In addition, frontal regions showed enhanced FC in the CH-PATs compared to CH-NATs, suggesting neural compensation for the damage caused by the pathology. Moreover, CH-PATs showed greater FC in the frontal and occipital regions than CH-NATs. Our findings provide a useful and non-invasive method for EEG-based analysis to identify alterations in brain connectivity in CHs with a pathological versus normal CSF Aβ/tau.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{chung2024design,

title = {Design development and evaluation of arm movement-assistive suits for lifting and movement for industrial workers considering wearability},

author = {Jiwon Chung and Jung Eun Yoon and Soah Park and Hyunbin Won and Suhyun Ha and Sumin Helen Koo},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ergon.2024.103616},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-08-03},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics},

volume = {103},

pages = {103616},

publisher = {Elsevier},

abstract = {Wearability of clothing is important for enhancing work efficiency and resistance among industrial workers. In this study, we developed wearable suit designs for shoulder and upper limb support when lifting objects considering the wearability of the user in the development stage. We provide basic data on the wearability of functional clothing and wearable suits, with emphasis on improving safety and work efficiency. Two distinct wearable suit designs, namely long- and short-sleeved, were developed and evaluated with a primary focus on wearer comfort. Employing a comprehensive approach encompassing textile analysis, performance assessment, brainwave investigation, and satisfaction surveys, this study provides objective insights for refining the wearability in wearable suit development. A short-sleeved design is recommended for the development of wearable suits tailored to assist industrial workers in tasks requiring muscle strength for heavy loads and repetitive motions. Our results provide foundational data on the wearability of robotic suits in a bid to enhance the safety and efficiency of industrial workers.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{he2024integration,

title = {Integration of Tai Chi and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for sleep disturbances in older adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial},

author = {Jiali He and Sunny HW Chan and Jingxia Lin and Hector WH Tsang},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2024.07.029},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-08-02},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Sleep Medicine},

publisher = {Elsevier},

abstract = {Background

The arousal state has been demonstrated to be involved in the fundamental pathophysiological mechanism of sleep disturbances. Tai Chi (TC) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have been documented to alleviate sleep disturbances by interfering with different arousal components. It is reasonable to assume that combining TC and rTMS could induce synergistic and longer-lasting benefits for sleep disturbances.



Methods

Thirty-eight older community-dwelling people were randomly assigned to one of three groups: TC plus rTMS (n = 12), TC alone (n = 13), and treat-as-usual (TAU) (n = 13). The interventions were conducted three times per week for 4 weeks for the two intervention groups. The primary outcome was the insomnia severity, while the secondary outcomes were the actigraphy-assessed sleep patterns, use of hypnotic medications, mood states, and quality of life. The mediator outcomes included self-reported somatic arousal and cognitive arousal as well as electroencephalogram (EEG)-assessed cortical arousal. The assessments were conducted at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), and 3-month follow-up (T2).



Results

Significant improvements in the insomnia severity were observed in the TC plus rTMS group compared with the TAU group at T1 (Cohen’s d = 1.62, p = .003) and T2 (Cohen’s d = 1.97, p < .001). In contrast, significant improvements in the TC alone group were found only at T2 (Cohen’s d = 1.03, p = .010) when compared with the TAU group. Significant interaction effects were noted on the actigraphy-assessed sleep efficiency (p = .015) and total sleep time (p = .004), depression (p = .003) and stress scores (p = .002), and mental function in relation to quality of life (p = .042). However, none of the mediators elucidated how combining TC and rTMS could improve the insomnia severity.



Conclusion

The research findings are expected to guide further clinical practice in the management of sleep disturbances among older adults using various interventions. Future studies are needed to unravel the underlying mechanism and optimize the protocol to maximize the therapeutic benefits.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{alrasheedi2024utilizing,

title = {Utilizing Dry Electrode Electroencephalography and AI Robotics for Cognitive Stress Monitoring in Video Gaming},

author = {Aseel A Alrasheedi and Alyah Z Alrabeah and Fatemah J Almuhareb and Noureyah MY Alras and Shaymaa N Alduaij and Abdullah S Karar and Sherif Said and Karim Youssef and Samer Al Kork},

doi = {https://doi.org/10.3390/asi7040068},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-07-31},

urldate = {2024-01-01},

journal = {Applied System Innovation},

volume = {7},

number = {4},

pages = {68},

publisher = {MDPI},

abstract = {This research explores the integration of the Dry Sensor Interface-24 (DSI-24) EEG headset with a ChatGPT-enabled Furhat robot to monitor cognitive stress in video gaming environments. The DSI-24, a cutting-edge, wireless EEG device, is adept at rapidly capturing brainwave activity, making it particularly suitable for dynamic settings such as gaming. Our study leverages this technology to detect cognitive stress indicators in players by analyzing EEG data. The collected data are then interfaced with a ChatGPT-powered Furhat robot, which performs dual roles: guiding players through the data collection process and prompting breaks when elevated stress levels are detected. The core of our methodology is the real-time processing of EEG signals to determine players’ focus levels, using a mental focusing feature extracted from the EEG data. The work presented here discusses how technology, data analysis methods and their combined effects can improve player satisfaction and enhance gaming experiences. It also explores the obstacles and future possibilities of using EEG for monitoring video gaming environments.},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}