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We explored neural processing differences associated with aging across four cognitive functions. In addition to ERP analysis, we included task-related microstate analyses, which identified stable states of neural activity across the scalp over time, to explore whole-head neural activation differences. Younger and older adults (YA, OA) completed face perception (N170), word-pair judgment (N400), visual oddball (P3), and flanker (ERN) tasks. Age-related effects differed across tasks. Despite age-related delayed latencies, N170 ERP and microstate analyses indicated no age-related differences in amplitudes or microstates. However, age-related condition differences were found for P3 and N00 amplitudes and scalp topographies: smaller condition differences were found for in OAs as well as broader centroparietal scalp distributions. Age group comparisons for the ERN revealed similar focal frontocentral activation loci, but differential activation patterns. Our findings of differential age effects across tasks are most consistent with the STAC-r framework which proposes that age-related effects differ depending on the resources available and the kinds of processing and cognitive load required of various tasks.
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This content will become publicly available on February 1, 2027
Comparing Simultaneous Scalp EEG Recordings from the OpenBCI Cyton and Brain Products BrainAmp
Portable, affordable electroencephalography (EEG) amplifiers could enable neuroscience-scale data collection. The open-source OpenBCI Cyton shows promise in this regard, but remains undervalidated for cognitive neuroscience ERP experiments. We simultaneously recorded eight scalp electrodes with both Cyton and gold-standard Brain Products BrainAmp amplifiers across P3b-, ERN-, and N400-eliciting tasks. Five healthy volunteers completed visual oddball (P3b), flankers (ERN), and word association (N400) tasks. We quantified within-subject signal similarity using Pearson r2, mean absolute error (MAE), mean arctangent absolute percentage error (MAAPE), and within-component window mean and standard deviation. Cyton signals showed r2 = 97–100%, MAE ≈ 1 µV, and MAAPE ≈ 20% with BrainAmp signals at ERP sites of interest. No significant differences emerged in mean amplitudes within ERP component windows across amplifiers, though standard deviations differed significantly. These results demonstrate that the Cyton records highly similar but not identical scalp EEG as research-grade equipment. This first multi-subject, concurrent scalp EEG validation across multiple ERP components validates the Cyton for cognitive neuroscience and supports broader adoption of affordable open-source tools.
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- PAR ID:
- 10677835
- Publisher / Repository:
- MDPI
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Sensors
- Volume:
- 26
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 1424-8220
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1153
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- EEG ERP P300 P3b N400 ERN low-cost neuroimaging open-source OpenBCI cyton brain products BrainAmp
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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