Neuro-response data synchronization

• US 8,655,428 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: The Nielsen Company LLC (MOOD Media Corporation)
• Inventors: Pradeep, Anantha, Knight, Robert T., Gurumoorthy, Ramachandran
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnithithadha, Navin
• Assistant Examiner(s): BERHANU, ETSUB D
• Application Number:
  US12/778,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 600/544, 600/545, 600/383
• US Class Current: 600/383
• 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. An apparatus, comprising:

a flexible band;

a first hub coupled to a first end of the flexible band;

a first electrode extending from the first hub a first distance;

a second electrode extending from the first hub a second distance, the second distance different than the first distance, wherein the first hub is rotatable on the first end of the flexible band to change a position of the first electrode and the second electrode;

a second hub coupled to a second end of the flexible band;

a third electrode extending from the second hub a third distance;

a fourth electrode coupled to the second hub a fourth distance, the fourth distance different than the third distance;

a clock signal receiver to receive a clock signal representing timing information of a stimulus material; and

a processor to synchronize the timing information with neuro-response data gathered from at least one of the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode or the fourth electrode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clock signal receiver comprises at least one of a cell tower signal receiver or a satellite signal receiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stimulus material presentation device to present the stimulus material to a user, wherein the clock signal is transmitted from the stimulus material presentation device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a data analyzer to:

analyze neuro-response data gathered from at least one of the first, second, third or fourth electrode while communicatively coupled to a head of a user exposed to stimulus material; and

determine an effectiveness of the stimulus material based on the analyzed neuro-response data.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the data analyzer is to analyze the timing information correlating the stimulus material and the neuro-response data, and the effectiveness is further based on the timing information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a transmitter to transmit neuro-response data gathered from at least one of the first, second, third or fourth electrode to a remote analyzer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fifth electrode extending a fifth distance from a midportion of the flexible band between the first hub and the second hub.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a sixth electrode extending a sixth distance from the midportion of the flexible band between the first hub and the second hub, the sixth distance different than the fifth distance.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first plurality of electrodes, including the first electrode and the second electrode, individually radiate from the first hub.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a second plurality of electrodes, including the third electrode and the fourth electrode, individually radiate from the second hub.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes are arranged to avoid a temporal region of a head of a user.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, third or fourth electrodes includes an amplifier to condition neuro-response signals gathered by the at least one of the first, second, third or fourth electrodes.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth electrodes includes a respective amplifier to condition neuro-response signals gathered by the respective electrode.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a flexible printed circuit board to communicate neuro-response signals gathered by the at least one of the first, second, third or fourth electrodes.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first number of electrodes at the first hub matches a second number of electrodes at the second hub to counterbalance a first force from the first hub against a head of a subject wearing the apparatus with a second force from the second hub against the head.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first number of electrodes is disposed in a first pattern and the second number of electrodes is disposed in a second pattern.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are symmetrical about a midpoint of the flexible band between the first hub and the second hub.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth electrode is flexibly coupled to the respective hub.