The Feasibility and Test-Retest Reliability of Wireless Dry-Electrode EEG During a Dynamic Psychomotor Virtual Reality Task

Abstract

Purpose: Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive environments for studying psychomotor performance, but the reliability of dry-electrode electroencephalography (EEG) in assessing brain activity during dynamic VR exergames (VRex) remains unclear. The present study investigated the feasibility and reliability of dry-electrode EEG frequency band, with primary focus on alpha band activity. Methods: Ten amateur combat sports male participants (37 ± 11 years) volunteered for this study. The feasibility of dry-electrode EEG recording during motion and test-retest (24 h) reliability, was investigated. EEG measurements were obtained pre, post, and throughout a standardized boxing focus ball VRex session, comprising three 3-min rounds interspersed with 1-min rest intervals. EEG data were analyzed globally and at each electrode site, calculating average power spectral density values. Findings: ICCs data indicated poor-to-excellent (0.208–0.858) reliability across all measurements within the 4- to 30-Hz frequency range. Poor-to-good reliability (0.393–0.636) was found across the task-active VRex intervals. Electrode sites ranged in reliability from poor (electrode P3; 0.262) to excellent (electrode P4; 0.728), with higher reliability found in the alpha band across electrode sites compared to average spectral band values. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates the feasibility, although variable reliability, in neuronal detection during a dynamic VR task, using novel dry-electrode EEG technology.