Outline

• Review: EEG signals

• Vestibular System
– Head Movements: Linear and Angular
– Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex
• Wearable: Accelerometer input; Tactile output
• Reaction Times
– Fitts Law
– Choice Reaction Time
– Speed-Accuracy Trade-off
 Review: EEG Signals

https://shop.openbci.com/collections/frontpage/
products/ultracortex-mark-iv?variant=23280716419
The Vestibular System

(Balance: Head motion and Gravity)

 Head Movements and Equilibrium
Semicircular canals sense head rotation Utricle and Saccule sense linear acceleration
and direction of head relative to gravity

https://www.eecs.ucf.edu/~jjl/pubs/cybersick.pdf - The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Dr. Diana Weedman Molavi

Washington University School of Medicine
 Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex
Reflex eye movements:

Input: head movement:

Actuators: Eye muscles

(extra-ocular muscles)
Feedback:
Neural pathway:
Visual inputs

Sensors: Vestibular system:

https://www.eecs.ucf.edu/~jjl/pubs/cybersick.pdf
Dr. Diana Weedman Molavi
Washington University School of Medicine
Wearable: Accelerometer input; Tactile output

Tino, Anita & Carvalho, Melanie & F Preto, Nelson & M Valter McConville, Kristiina. Wireless vibrotactile
feedback system for postural response improvement. Annual International Conference of the IEEE
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. 2011.
Action
Action: Reaction Times

Automaticity – Highly Practiced

Skill Based
(Speed)
Rule Based
Knowledge Based Learning – New Environment
(Accuracy)

http://www.topendsports.com/testing/video/reaction-time-test.htm
 Reaction Time
= fn (modality, intensity, temporal uncertainty, expectancy)
RT

Visual -> accurate

Warning Interval Totally surprising
• keep short and constant events may produce
•0.5 s optimal: RT long RT~ 2-4 s
0

Auditory -> fast Stimulus Intensity

Act if Σ (evidence) > Threshold
Threshold = fn(sensitivity, criterion)

See Marc Green:

http://www.visualexpert.com/Resources/reactiontime.html
 Fitts Law: Visually Guided Tasks
Target Movement
Time MT
(ms)
Start
500
400
A = 16 units
300
200

Index of
W = 4 units 2 3 4 5
Difficulty ID

ID = log 2 2A = log2 2 x 16 = 3
W 4
Speed-Accuracy
MT = a + b(ID) Trade-off
Fitts Law of Movement

Examples:
• Single discrete steps
• Reciprocal tapping
• Foot pedals

Wickens and Hollands, 2000

Choice Reaction Times: Information Theory
Hick-Hyman Law
RT

b = slope

1 2 3 Hs
2 4 8 N

RT = a + b Hs

Uncertainty regarding WHICH stimulus and WHICH action

 Speed-Accuracy Trade-off
Ht
Bandwidth = RT bits/s = Efficiency

Speed-Accuracy Operating Characteristic

100 %
Optimal region
% Correct
Bandwidth or Efficiency
50 %
RT

We naturally optimize our bandwidth: try to be fast and accurate

 Homework
• Try an online reaction time game
– e.g. https://www.justpark.com/creative/reaction-time-test
– Is this game a simple, choice or recognition
reaction time test?
– Can you improve your scores?
• Find some exercises and tips online for
improving reaction time