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Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Methods for Presenting Real-world Objects Under Controlled Laboratory Conditions
Published on: June 21, 2019
Neuroimaging of reality: A new approach for investigating neural bases of decision-making with real-world objects
Damien Gabriel1, Guillaume Bertrand2, Magali Nicolier3
1INSERM CIC-1431, Centre d'Investigation Clinique, Pôle Recherche, CHU de Besançon, Besançon, France; Plateforme de Neuroimagerie fonctionnelle et neuromodulation Neuraxess, Besançon, France; Université de Franche-Comté, INSERM, UMR, Besançon 1322 LINC, France.
Background:
Neuroimaging studies often use computerized tasks, but reliance on virtual stimuli limits ecological validity. Incorporating real object interaction under controlled recording conditions may enhance the study of decision-making processes.
New Method:
We developed Lab-Life, a device enabling manipulation of real objects while ensuring precise monitoring and compatibility with electrophysiological recordings. Forty-four right-handed healthy volunteers performed two decision-making tasks: the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT, real vs. virtual cards) and the Game of Dice Task (GDT, real vs. virtual dice). Twenty-two participants (11 per task) used Lab-Life (hybrid condition), while additional virtual task groups were included to illustrate typical behavioral and EEG signatures. Object identity and values were tracked with infrared cameras, and EEG was recorded to analyze event-related potentials (ERPs) to outcomes.
Results:
Behavioral analyses showed perfect concordance between expected and detected object values in hybrid condition, validating Lab-Life's automated object recognition. EEG analyses revealed comparable numbers of valid trials and similar ERP patterns between hybrid and virtual task conditions, indicating that the device does not introduce movement artifacts. Participants consistently reported higher enjoyment when manipulating real compared to virtual objects.
Comparison With Existing Methods:
Unlike conventional paradigms relying solely on virtual stimuli, Lab-Life integrates real objects without compromising behavioral or electrophysiological data quality. The device allows precise temporal synchronization between object manipulation and EEG recordings while preserving experimental control.
Conclusions:
Lab-Life is a validated methodological tool for combining behavioral and electrophysiological measures with real object manipulation. It offers a flexible and adaptable platform for decision-making, memory, or perceptual tasks, thereby bridging the gap between laboratory experiments and real-life conditions. Larger studies are warranted to further explore its impact on cognitive performance.
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