Mobile Brain/Body Imaging (MoBI) constitutes an innovative imaging methodology that merges mobile brain imaging techniques, such as electroencephalogram (EEG) or near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), with motion capture and other data streams. Its fundamental objective is to examine brain activity while individuals are actively engaged in movement and interactions within their surroundings. By granting participants the freedom to partake in natural cognitive and emotional processes unrestricted by physical movement constraints, MoBI facilitates the study of brain dynamics in contexts more closely resembling reality.
In contrast to established imaging modalities like functional magnetic resonance tomography (MRI), MoBI boasts substantial advantages. It overcomes the limitations of fixed imaging setups by allowing participants to move freely, providing novel insights into brain function in mobile individuals. This approach has the potential to unveil the neural mechanisms underlying active behavior and the intricate interplay between behavior and brain dynamics. Consequently, MoBI holds the promise of propelling our comprehension of human cognition and emotion within authentic environments. The integration of MoBI with cutting-edge virtual reality headsets in controlled experimental environments further amplifies its capabilities, enabling the replication of true-to-life task scenarios and the exploration of brain responses in immersive, interactive settings.
Interested readers can find more information in this extensive introduction to Mobile Brain / Body Imaging!
What is MoBI?
What is our goal?
Our lab’s motivation stems from the recognition that traditional brain imaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance tomography (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetoencephalography (MEG), have provided valuable insights into the human brain’s architecture and neural dynamics supporting cognition. However, these established methods come with significant technical restrictions that severely limit participants’ movements during experiments.
As a consequence, our knowledge of the neural basis of human cognition is rooted in a dissociation of human cognition from what is arguably its foremost, and certainly its most evolutionarily determinant function—organizing our behavior so as to optimize its consequences in our complex, multi-scale, and ever-changing environment.
Our lab aims to address this limitation by embracing the concept of natural cognition, which acknowledges the importance of studying the brain in the context of human beings’ fundamental experiences and roles as embodied agents interacting with their complex and ever-changing environment.
At the center of our lab’s philosophy is the pursuit of a holistic understanding of human cognition with real-world relevance while overcoming current technical limitations in neuroscience. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and embracing a multidisciplinary approach, our lab is well-positioned to contribute significantly to the field of cognitive neuroscience and its practical applications in human-machine interaction and rehabilitation.
The multifaceted applications of Mobile Brain/Body Imaging (MoBI) encompass a diverse range of fields, capitalizing on its distinctive ability to scrutinize brain activity in ecologically valid scenarios. Key domains that benefit from MoBI’s utility include:
- Neuroergonomics: Informing the design of environments and interfaces aligned with human cognition, optimizing productivity and satisfaction (Gramann et al., 2021)
- Neurourbanism: Analyzing urban environment regarding experiences such as stress and well-being, and informing appropriate design (Sander et al., 2024; Gramann, 2024; Wang et al., 2022)
- Spatial cognition: Shedding light on navigation, wayfinding (Iggena et al., 2022; Cheng et al., 2022), spatial learning and memory (Hilton et al., 2022), and developing assistive technologies (Protzak et al., 2022)
- Cognitive-motor interference: investigating underlying neural mechanisms in dual-task performance, aging and falls (Wiczorek et al., 2022; Wunderlich et al., 2021)
- Neural and movement signatures of interactions: pinpointing neural markers facilitating new ways of human-robot interaction (Gehrke et al., 2022)
- Embodied cognition: Understanding the implications of controlling a real or virtual body on cognition (Sanches de Oliveira et al., 2023)