NEURO-RESPONSE DATA SYNCHRONIZATION

• US 20110282232A1
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: NeuroFocus Inc. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Inventors: Pradeep, Anantha, Knight, Robert T., Gurumoorthy, Ramachandran
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0242 Determining effectiveness of advertisements

Abstract

Efficient and effective mechanisms for collecting electroencephalography (EEG) data are provided to synchronize neuro-response data collection with stimulus material presentation for in situ engagement monitoring and tracking. An EEG headset includes multiple point electrodes individually isolated and amplified. In some examples, a stimulus material presentation mechanism includes a clock source and a clock transmitter. The clock transmitter sends clock signals to a neuro-response data collection mechanism to allow synchronization of neuro-response data collected with stimulus presentation events. The EEG headset can be configured to perform processing while supporting both continuous input and output.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving neuro-response data from a user at a dry electrode arranged on a flexible electroencephalography (EEG) headset, the user exposed to stimulus material from a stimulus material presentation mechanism, wherein the dry electrode is configured to make a point contact with the scalp of the user;

receiving a shared clock signal associated with a stimulus material presentation mechanism at the flexible EEG headset;

synchronizing the neuro-response data from the user with stimulus material presented to the user by accessing the shared clock signal associated with a stimulus material presentation mechanism;

transmitting neuro-response data including timing information generated using the shared clock signal to a data analyzer to allow determination of the effectiveness of stimulus materials presented to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein neuro-response data from the dry electrode is individually amplified to generate amplified neuro-response data from the dry electrode;

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the amplified neuro-response data is aggregated with amplified neuro-response data from a plurality of other dry electrodes on the flexible EEG headset, wherein dry electrodes on the flexible EEG headset are arranged to avoid measuring neuro-response data from the temporal region.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the neuro-response data is analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the marketing and entertainment materials presented to the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the EEG headset includes a flexible printed circuit board.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an amplifier is configured on the flexible printed circuit board.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of amplifiers correspond to the plurality of dry electrodes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein electrooculography (EOG) sensors are used to detect eye movements of the user.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the effectiveness of marketing and entertainment materials comprises measuring attention, emotion, and memory retention.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of electroencephalography (EEG) dry electrodes configured to make a plurality of point contacts with a scalp of a user, the plurality of EEG dry electrodes including a plurality of right side electrodes, a plurality of left side electrodes, and a plurality of front electrodes, wherein the plurality of EEG dry electrodes avoid contact with the temporal region;

a clock signal receiver configured to receive a shared clock signal associated with a stimulus material presentation mechanism;

a processor configured to synchronize the neuro-response data from the user with stimulus material presented to the user by accessing the shared clock signal associated with a stimulus material presentation mechanism;

a transmitter configured to send the neuro-response data along with timing data generated using the shared clock signal to a neuro-response data analyzer configured to determine in-situ attention and engagement of the user exposed to stimulus materials.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a flexible support structure attached to the plurality of electrodes.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of amplifiers associated with the plurality of dry electrodes, wherein neuro-response data from each of the plurality of dry electrodes is individually amplified and isolated.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the flexible support structure is associated with an EEG headset.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein an amplifier is configured on a flexible printed circuit board.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of amplifiers correspond to the plurality of dry electrodes.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein electrooculography (EOG) sensors are used to detect eye movements of the user.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein aggregated neuro-response data is transmitted wirelessly to a remote data analyzer.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the remote data analyzer is configured to determine the effectiveness of marketing and entertainment materials.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining the effectiveness of marketing and entertainment materials comprises measuring attention, emotion, and memory retention.

20. An apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving neuro-response data from a user at a dry electrode arranged on a flexible electroencephalography (EEG) headset, the user exposed to stimulus material from a stimulus material presentation mechanism, wherein the dry electrode is configured to make a point contact with the scalp of the user;

means for receiving a shared clock signal associated with a stimulus material presentation mechanism at the flexible EEG headset;

means for synchronizing the neuro-response data from the user with stimulus material presented to the user by accessing the shared clock signal associated with a stimulus material presentation mechanism;

means for transmitting neuro-response data including timing information generated using the shared clock signal to a data analyzer to allow determination of the effectiveness of stimulus materials presented to the user.