Systems and methods to gather and analyze electroencephalographic data

Abstract

Example methods are disclosed herein that include obtaining electroencephalographic (EEG) data from a subject via a device comprising two or more independently adjustable bands, each of the bands having a plurality of electrodes to detect the electroencephalographic data from a brain of the subject, each band selectively rotatable relative to an adjacent band and each band selectively compressible to increase a force of the electrodes against a head of the subject. The example method also includes converting the EEG data into digital EEG signals and conditioning the digital EEG signals. In addition, the example method includes analyzing the digital EEG signals using one or more analysis protocols to determine a mental characteristic of the subject and transmitting the mental characteristic to an output device.

1 - 93 . (canceled) 
     
     
         94 . A method comprising:
 analyzing first data gathered from a first sensor of a headset coupled to a subject while exposed to media to determine a first behavior of the subject, the first sensor comprising an electrode coupled to a head of the subject;   determining a mental state of the subject based on the first behavior;   analyzing second data gathered from a second sensor to determine a second behavior of the subject; and   determining an intended activity of the subject based on the mental state and the second behavior.   
     
     
         95 . The method as defined in  claim 94 , wherein the first behavior is a change in brain activity. 
     
     
         96 . The method as defined in  claim 94 , wherein the second behavior is a direction of eye gaze. 
     
     
         97 . The method as defined in  claim 94 , wherein the mental state is a level of engagement. 
     
     
         98 . The method as defined in  claim 94 , wherein the intended activity is an actuation of an electronic device. 
     
     
         99 . The method as defined in  claim 98 , wherein the actuation of the electronic device is a change in at least one of a volume, a mute status, a channel or a power status of a device presenting the media. 
     
     
         100 . The method as defined in  claim 98 , wherein the actuation of the electronic device is a cursor move, a key stroke or a mouse click. 
     
     
         101 . The method as defined in  claim 98  further comprising sending, from the headset, a signal to the electronic device to effectuate the intended activity. 
     
     
         102 . The method as defined in  claim 94 , wherein analyzing the first data comprises analyzing electroencephalographic signatures in a somatosensory system that are focal over a sensorimotor cortex contralateral to movement and include changes in mu and beta frequencies. 
     
     
         103 . The method as defined in  claim 94 , wherein the intended activity is consumption of the media. 
     
     
         104 . The method as defined in  claim 103  further comprising identifying a program in the media by at least one of detecting a channel, collecting an audio code indicative of the program or reviewing time-stamped data at a remote data collection facility. 
     
     
         105 . The method as defined in  claim 104  further comprising determining an audience rating based on the intended activity and the program identification. 
     
     
         106 . A tangible machine accessible storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:
 analyze first data gathered from a first sensor of a headset coupled to a subject while exposed to media to determine a first behavior of the subject, the first sensor comprising an electrode coupled to a head of the subject;   determine a mental state of the subject based on the first behavior;   analyze second data gathered from a second sensor to determine a second behavior of the subject; and   determine an intended activity of the subject based on the mental state and the second behavior.   
     
     
         107 . The tangible machine accessible storage medium as defined in  claim 106 , wherein the first behavior is a change in brain activity, the second behavior is a direction of eye gaze and the mental state is a level of engagement. 
     
     
         108 . The tangible machine accessible storage medium as defined in  claim 106 , wherein the intended activity is an actuation of an electronic device. 
     
     
         109 . The tangible machine accessible storage medium as defined in  claim 108 , wherein the actuation of the electronic device is at least one of a volume change, a mute status change, a channel change, a power status change, a cursor move, a key stroke, or a mouse click of a device presenting the media. 
     
     
         110 . The tangible machine accessible storage medium as defined in  claim 108 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to send, from the headset, a signal to the electronic device to effectuate the intended activity. 
     
     
         111 . The tangible machine accessible storage medium as defined in  claim 106 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to analyze the first data by analyzing electroencephalographic signatures in a somatosensory system that are focal over a sensorimotor cortex contralateral to movement and include changes in mu and beta frequencies. 
     
     
         112 . The tangible machine accessible storage medium as defined in  claim 106 , wherein the intended activity is consumption of the media. 
     
     
         113 . The tangible machine accessible storage medium as defined in  claim 112 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to:
 identify a program in the media by at least one of detecting a channel, collecting an audio code indicative of the program or reviewing time-stamped data at a remote data collection facility; and   determine an audience rating based on the intended activity and the program identification.   
     
     
         114 . A system comprising:
 a first sensor to gather first data, the first sensor disposed in a headset coupled to a subject while the subject is exposed to media, the first sensor comprising an electrode coupled to the head of the subject;   a second sensor to gather second data from the subject; and   a processor to:
 analyze the first data gathered from the first sensor to determine a first behavior of the subject; 
 determine a mental state of the subject based on the first behavior; 
 analyze the second data gathered from the second sensor to determine a second behavior of the subject; and 
 determine an intended activity of the subject based on the mental state and the second behavior. 
   
     
     
         115 . The system as defined in  claim 114 , wherein the first behavior is a change in brain activity. 
     
     
         116 . The system as defined in  claim 114 , wherein the second behavior is a direction of eye gaze. 
     
     
         117 . The system as defined in  claim 114 , wherein the mental state is a level of engagement. 
     
     
         118 . The system as defined in  claim 114  further comprising an electronic device, wherein the intended activity is an actuation of the electronic device. 
     
     
         119 . The system as defined in  claim 118 , wherein the actuation of the electronic device is at least one of a volume change, a mute status change, a channel change, a power status change, a cursor move, a key stroke or a mouse click of a device presenting the media. 
     
     
         120 . The system as defined in  claim 118  further comprising a transmitter to transmit, from the headset, a signal to the electronic device to effectuate the intended activity. 
     
     
         121 . The system as defined in  claim 114 , wherein the processor is to analyze the first data by analyzing electroencephalographic signatures in a somatosensory system that are focal over a sensorimotor cortex contralateral to movement and include changes in mu and beta frequencies. 
     
     
         122 . The system as defined in  claim 114 , wherein the intended activity is consumption of the media. 
     
     
         123 . The system as defined in  claim 122 , wherein the processor is to:
 identify a program in the media by at least one of detecting a channel, collecting an audio code indicative of the program or reviewing time-stamped data at a remote data collection facility; and   determine an audience rating based on the intended activity and the program identification.   
     
     
         124 - 146 . (canceled)