LabLinking: theory, framework, and solutions of connecting laboratories for distributed human experiments

Abstract

We introduce the concept of LabLinking: a technology-based interconnection of experimental laboratories across institutions, disciplines, cultures, languages, and time zones - in other words human studies and experiments without borders. In particular, we introduce a theoretical framework of LabLinking, describing multiple dimensions of conceptual, organizational, and technical aspects. The framework defines LabLinking levels (LLL), which describe the degree of tightness of empirical interconnection between labs. In several examples, we describe the technological infrastructure in terms of hard- and software required for the respective LLLs and share insights about the challenges and benefits. This comprises the connection of multiple labs in a collection of multiple synchronized biosignals (including an MRI scanner) for a decision making study, a human-robot interaction study to investigate attention-adaptive communication behavior, as well as an experiment for LabLinking through Virtual Reality in a virtual commerce setting, for an increased feeling of immersion. In sum, we argue that LabLinking provides a unique platform for a continuous exchange between scientists and experimenters, thereby enabling a time synchronous execution of experiments performed with and by decentralized users and researchers, allowing to establish novel experimental designs that would not be feasible without LabLinking, such as the investigation of high-resolution neural signals in everyday activity situations, which was realized by interconnecting a control participant in an fMRI with an execution participant in a kitchen environment.