Abstract：
An improvement in ecological validity is one of the significant challenges for 21st-century neuroscience. At the same time, the study of neurocognitive processes in real-life situations requires good control of all variables relevant to the results. One possible solution that combines the capability of creating realistic experimental scenarios with adequate control of the test environment is virtual reality. Our goal was to develop an integrative research workspace involving a CW-fNIRS and head-mounted-display (HMD) technology dedicated to offline and online cognitive experiments. We designed an experimental study in a repeated-measures model on a group of BCI-naïve participants to verify our assumptions. The procedure included a 3D environment-adapted variant of the classic n-back task (2-back version). Tasks were divided into offline (calibration) and online (feedback) sessions. In both sessions, the signal was recorded during the cognitive task for within-group comparisons of changes in oxy-Hb concentration in the regions of interest (the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-DLPFC and middle frontal gyrus-MFG). In the online session, the recorded signal changes were translated into real-time feedback. We hypothesized that it would be possible to obtain significantly higher than the level-of-chance threshold classification accuracy for the enhanced attention engagement (2-back task) vs. relaxed state in both conditions. Additionally, we measured participants\' subjective experiences of the BCI control in terms of satisfaction. Our results confirmed hypotheses regarding the offline condition. In accordance with the hypotheses, combining fNIRS and HMD technologies enables the effective transfer of experimental cognitive procedures to a controlled VR environment. This opens the new possibility of creating more ecologically valid studies and training procedures.
摘要：
生态有效性的提高是21世纪神经科学的重大挑战之一。同时,在现实生活中神经认知过程的研究需要很好地控制与结果相关的所有变量。将创建现实实验场景的能力与对测试环境的充分控制相结合的一种可能的解决方案是虚拟现实。我们的目标是开发一个涉及CW-fNIRS和头戴式显示器（HMD）技术的综合研究工作区，致力于离线和在线认知实验。我们在一组BCI天真的参与者的重复测量模型中设计了一项实验研究，以验证我们的假设。该程序包括经典n-back任务的3D环境适应变体（2-back版本）。任务分为离线（校准）和在线（反馈）会话。在这两个会议中，在认知任务期间记录了该信号,以便对感兴趣区域(背外侧前额叶皮质-DLPFC和中额回-MFG)的oxy-Hb浓度变化进行组内比较.在联机会话中，记录的信号变化被转化为实时反馈。我们假设，对于增强的注意力投入（2回任务）与在这两种情况下都处于放松状态。此外,我们从满意度的角度衡量了参与者对BCI控制的主观体验。我们的结果证实了关于离线条件的假设。根据假设，结合fNIRS和HMD技术可以将实验认知程序有效地转移到受控的VR环境中。这为创建更具生态有效性的研究和培训程序开辟了新的可能性。
