A ride in the park: Cycling in different outdoor environments modulates the auditory evoked potentials

Abstract

Mobile EEG allows the investigation of brain activity outside of the lab and in increasingly complex environments. In this study, EEG equipment was adapted for use and transportation in a backpack while cycling. Participants performed an auditory oddball task while cycling outside either in a quiet park or near a noisy roadway. In both conditions, we were able to accurately measure reliable event related potentials (ERP). The P2 and P3 were similar in topography, and morphology, with no differences in amplitude between conditions. When biking near the roadway, an increased N1 amplitude was observed when evoked by both standards and targets compared with biking in the quiet park. This may be due to attentional processes filtering the overlapping sounds between the tones used and similar environmental frequencies. No behavioural differences were found. This study established methods for mobile recording of ERP signals. Future directions include investigating auditory ERPs in more realistic studies outside of laboratory.