Assessment of EEG-based functional connectivity in response to haptic delay

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Haptics

Background:

• Haptic technologies allow physical interaction with virtual environments but face challenges with feedback delay.
• Haptic delay degrades user experience and interaction quality.
• Understanding the neural processing of haptic delay is crucial for mitigating its impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the functional neural networks processing haptic delay during passive and active interactions.
• To analyze how haptic delay affects brain network characteristics using electroencephalography (EEG).

Main Methods:

• Nineteen participants performed a visuo-haptic task with simultaneous EEG recording.
• Analysis combined phase locking value (PLV) functional connectivity and graph theory.
• Evaluated global (small-worldness index) and local (nodal strength index) connectivity properties.

Main Results:

• Haptic delay significantly altered brain network characteristics.
• Increased small-worldness index in delta and theta bands and increased nodal strength in the middle central region were observed.
• The middle central region showed increased connectivity with parietal and occipital regions due to haptic delay.

Conclusions:

• The brain's network dynamics are distinctly modulated by haptic delay.
• Findings suggest the middle central region detects visuo-haptic conflict, with parietal and occipital regions involved in resolution and integration.
• This research provides insights into neural mechanisms underlying haptic delay processing.