Relação entre as métricas do EEG EMOTIV EPOC X e medidas neuropsicológicas em tarefa de alta e baixa carga cognitiva

Abstract

The portable electroencephalogram (EEG) is a non-invasive, low-cost method used to evaluate cerebral electrophysiological activity. Although such portable equipment has been increasingly used, there are still few validation studies on its functioning. This study aimed to evaluate the performance metrics (engagement, excitability, focus, interest, relaxation, and stress) obtained from the recording of electrophysiological signals in the EMOTIV EPOC X EEG alongside neuropsychological evaluation, using a cognitive load activity (n-back). The study sample consisted of 60 university students, with 26 male and 34 female students, divided into two groups: experimental, where participants were subjected to a high cognitive effort task, and control, where participants performed a low cognitive effort task. The results showed negative correlations between symptoms of mental disorders and concentrated attention; between symptoms of mental disorders and the performance in the academic engagement test; and between concentrated attention and stress. Regarding the performance metrics of the portable EEG, a significant difference was observed in the "excitability" metric between the groups, with no significant difference patterns found in relation to the other performance metrics. In the behavioral test, conducted with the N-back task, significant differences in average correct responses and response time between the control and experimental groups were observed. The experimental group, which performed an activity with higher cognitive load (2-back), had a lower average of correct responses and took longer than the control group, whose activity was of lower cognitive load (0-back). Additionally, a negative correlation was found in the general group between the "engagement" performance metric and the SRQ-20 questionnaire, which may indicate that greater signs of common mental disorders can be associated with lower engagement. Among the participants of the control group, there was a positive correlation between the "stress" metric in the EEG and the ISSL stress inventory. That is, the higher the score on the stress inventory, the higher the performance metric score related to stress in the EEG. Despite this, the results for the other evaluated metrics were inconclusive, underscoring the need for additional studies to determine their accuracy and validity.