Electroencephalographic attention monitor
First Claim
1. A method of assessing the interest of a subject in a visual stimulus, by means of application of a control signal is combination with said visual stimulus, which control signal produces a distinguishable response in the subject, and measurement of said interest by reference to a change in said response, said method comrpising the steps ofdisplaying a periodic visual control signal having a preselected frequency,obtaining an electroencephalographic (EEG) signal from the subject whilst said visual control signal is being viewed, andanalysing the EEG signal to determine the magnitude of that component of the EEG signal which corresponds in frequency to said control signal,wherein said method further comprises the steps of displaying said control signal and the visual stimulus simultaneously to the subject,obtaining and analysing the EEG signal to determine the magnitude of said component during said simultaneous display,determining the change in the magnitude of said component of the EEG signal, andassessing the interest of the subject in said visual stimulus in accordance with said change.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining the level of attention of a subject to a visual stimulus such as a television commercial displayed on a screen (4) so as to provide objective information for designing the advertising presentation. The technique involves reflecting visible red radiation from arrays (16) of LEDs towards the eyes of the subjects (2) as a control signal at a predetermined frequency. The control signal is first applied to the subjects and EEG responses obtained. The control signal is then simultaneously applied with the display of the television commercial and EEG signals are again obtained. An assessment of the subjects interest is then made by determining the diminution in value of the components of the EEG response attributable to the control signal. A pair of illuminated goggles is also disclosed.
192 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of assessing the interest of a subject in a visual stimulus, by means of application of a control signal is combination with said visual stimulus, which control signal produces a distinguishable response in the subject, and measurement of said interest by reference to a change in said response, said method comrpising the steps of
displaying a periodic visual control signal having a preselected frequency, obtaining an electroencephalographic (EEG) signal from the subject whilst said visual control signal is being viewed, and analysing the EEG signal to determine the magnitude of that component of the EEG signal which corresponds in frequency to said control signal, wherein said method further comprises the steps of displaying said control signal and the visual stimulus simultaneously to the subject, obtaining and analysing the EEG signal to determine the magnitude of said component during said simultaneous display, determining the change in the magnitude of said component of the EEG signal, and assessing the interest of the subject in said visual stimulus in accordance with said change.
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10. Apparatus for assessing the interest of a subject in a visual stimulus by means of application of a control signal in combination with said visual stimulus, which control signal produces a distinguishable response in the subject, and measurement of said interest by reference to a change in said response, comprising
means for generating a visually perceptible periodic control signal having a predetermined frequency, display means for displaying a visual stimulus, means for deriving an EEG signal from the subject whilst the visual control signal and the visual stimulus are being simultaneously viewed by the subject, and analysing means for determining the change in magnitude of that component of the EEG signal which is attributable to the periodic control signal from one state in which the subject views only the control signal and another state when the subject views both the control signal and the visual stimulus, the analysing means including discriminating means for discriminating against components of the EEG signal which are not at said predetermined frequency.
Specification