Investigating Brain Connectivity and Information Flow in Mental Workload Using EEG and fNIRS Integration

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Qaremohammadlou, Mohaddese, Shamsollahi, Mohammad Bagher
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Qaremohammadlou, Mohaddese
Shamsollahi, Mohammad Bagher
author_facet Qaremohammadlou, Mohaddese
Shamsollahi, Mohammad Bagher
contents This study investigates brain connectivity and information flow during mental workload (MWL) by integrating electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals. Utilizing the N-back task to induce varying levels of MWL in 26 participants, we analyzed both functional and effective connectivity across 25 cortical regions derived from combined EEG and fNIRS signals. Functional connectivity was assessed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC), Phase Locking Value (PLV), and Magnitude Squared Coherence (MSC), while effective connectivity was evaluated using directed Directed Transfer Function (dDTF) and generalized Partial Directed Coherence (gPDC). Our findings reveal increased functional connectivity in frontal regions during higher MWL conditions (3-back compared to 0-back). Furthermore, effective connectivity analysis demonstrates a significant directional information flow from EEG to fNIRS, indicating a dominant influence of neural activity on hemodynamic responses. Statistical tests confirm significant differences in connectivity patterns between low and high MWL states. These results underscore the utility of EEG-fNIRS integration for characterizing brain network dynamics under varying cognitive demands and provide insights into neurovascular coupling mechanisms during mental workload.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_02457
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Investigating Brain Connectivity and Information Flow in Mental Workload Using EEG and fNIRS Integration
Qaremohammadlou, Mohaddese
Shamsollahi, Mohammad Bagher
Signal Processing
This study investigates brain connectivity and information flow during mental workload (MWL) by integrating electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals. Utilizing the N-back task to induce varying levels of MWL in 26 participants, we analyzed both functional and effective connectivity across 25 cortical regions derived from combined EEG and fNIRS signals. Functional connectivity was assessed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC), Phase Locking Value (PLV), and Magnitude Squared Coherence (MSC), while effective connectivity was evaluated using directed Directed Transfer Function (dDTF) and generalized Partial Directed Coherence (gPDC). Our findings reveal increased functional connectivity in frontal regions during higher MWL conditions (3-back compared to 0-back). Furthermore, effective connectivity analysis demonstrates a significant directional information flow from EEG to fNIRS, indicating a dominant influence of neural activity on hemodynamic responses. Statistical tests confirm significant differences in connectivity patterns between low and high MWL states. These results underscore the utility of EEG-fNIRS integration for characterizing brain network dynamics under varying cognitive demands and provide insights into neurovascular coupling mechanisms during mental workload.
title Investigating Brain Connectivity and Information Flow in Mental Workload Using EEG and fNIRS Integration
topic Signal Processing
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.02457