Behavioural response and event-related potential for a novel 3D virtual reality-based Go/No-go (bWell): Validation with a classical 2D Go/No-go

Poster Session A - Saturday, April 13, 2024, 2:30 – 4:30 pm EDT, Sheraton Hall ABC

Budhachandra Khundrakpam¹ (budhachandra.khundrakpam@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca), Sujata Sinha², Vincent Gagnon-Shaigetz¹, Nusrat Choudhury¹; ¹National Research Council Canada, ²McGill University

Introduction: Go/No-go, an experimental paradigm to study cognitive inhibition, is classically administered to participants as visual or audio stimuli in 2D and their behavioural responses and event-related potentials (ERPs) measured. Virtual reality (VR)-based cognitive exercises (in 3D) have the capability for sensory immersion with tight experimental control, and are useful for standardized cognitive assessments and interventions. We therefore set out to design and validate a novel 3D VR-based Go/No-go by comparing the behavioural responses and ERPs with a classical 2D Go/No-go. Methods: In this ongoing study, five participants were recruited (within-subject design) who completed a 2D and 3D Go/No-go task. 2D Go/No-go was performed in ‘Presentation’ software whereas 3D Go/No-go was completed in our VR-platform ‘bWell’, and electroencephalogram (EEG) signals were collected using an Enobio-8 channel EEG system, synchronously via Lab Streaming Layer (LSL). Results: Comparison of behavioural responses between 2D and 3D Go trials revealed a significant positive correlation for reaction time (r = 0.94, p = 0.01) and accuracy (r = 0.88, p = 0.04). For both 2D and 3D Go/No-go, we observed larger amplitude of P3 (300-600 ms) for No-go compared to Go. On comparing 2D vs 3D grand average ERPs, we observed that 2D has larger P3 for Go and No-go especially for frontal regions. Conclusion: Preliminary results from our ongoing study indicate that the behavioural responses and ERPs of our 3D VR-based Go/No-go correspond to those of 2D Go/No-go. Trials are currently ongoing to increase the sample size for statistical analysis.

Topic Area: EXECUTIVE PROCESSES: Monitoring & inhibitory control