IP Library Granted Patent US 8,494,905
Granted Patent B2
US 8,494,905 · App. 12/135,074 · Granted Jul 23, 2013

Audience response analysis using simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,494,905
App. No.
12/135,074
Granted
Jul 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Neuro-response data including Electroencephalography (EEG), Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is filtered, analyzed, and combined to evaluate the effectiveness of stimulus materials such as marketing and entertainment materials. A data collection mechanism including multiple modalities such as, Electroencephalography (EEG), Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Electrooculography (EOG), Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), etc., collects response data from subjects exposed to marketing and entertainment stimuli. A data cleanser mechanism filters the response data and removes cross-modality interference.

Claims (46)

1. A system, comprising:

a data collector to obtain first electroencephalography data from a first frequency band, second electroencephalography data from a second frequency band different than the first frequency band and occurring at a first period in time, and functional magnetic resonance imaging data from a subject exposed to an advertisement or entertainment;

a filter to remove interference from each of the first electroencephalography data, the second electroencephalography data, and the functional magnetic resonance imaging data;

an intra-modality response synthesizer comprising a processor configured to:

detect a first pattern of oscillation in the first frequency band;

detect a second pattern of oscillation in the second frequency band;

generate, using a processor configured to, a coupling index based on a phase synchrony between the first frequency band and the second frequency band, wherein the phase synchrony is determined by detecting a repeating sequence of relative phase angles between the first pattern of oscillation in the first frequency band and the second pattern of oscillation in the second frequency band; and

a cross-modality response synthesizer to analyze the coupling index and the functional magnetic resonance imaging data to evaluate effectiveness of the advertisement or entertainment at the first period in time.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filter is to remove electroencephalography generated artifacts from the functional magnetic resonance imaging data and to remove functional magnetic resonance imaging generated artifacts from at least one of the first or second electroencephalography data.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cross-modality response synthesizer is to align the functional magnetic resonance imaging data with at least one of the first electroencephalography data or the second electroencephalography data by at least one of time shifting or phase shifting at least one of the first electroencephalography data, the second electroencephalography data or the functional magnetic resonance imaging data.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data collector is to obtain electrooculography data.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data collector is to obtain eye tracking data.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the cross-modality response synthesizer is to align the eye tracking data with at least one of the first electroencephalography data or the second electroencephalography data and to combine the aligned data.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the data collector is to obtain galvanic skin response data.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the cross-modality response synthesizer is to align the galvanic skin response data with at least one of the first electroencephalography data or the second electroencephalography data and to combine the aligned data.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the intra-modality response synthesizer is to combine the first electroencephalography data and the second electroencephalography data to determine single trial evoked information.

10. A method, comprising:

obtaining, with a plurality of sensors, first electroencephalography data from a first frequency band, second electroencephalography data from a second frequency band different than the first frequency band and occurring at a first period in time, and functional magnetic resonance imaging data from a subject exposed to an advertisement or entertainment;

filtering interference from the first electroencephalography data, the second electroencephalography data, and the functional magnetic resonance imaging data;

detecting a first pattern of oscillation in the first frequency band;

detecting a second pattern of oscillation in the second frequency band;

generating, using a processor, a coupling index based on a phase synchrony between the first frequency band and the second frequency band, wherein the phase synchrony is determined by detecting a repeating sequence of relative phase angles between the first pattern of oscillation in the first frequency band and the second pattern of oscillation in the second frequency band; and

analyzing the coupling index and the functional magnetic resonance imaging data to evaluate effectiveness of the advertisement or entertainment at the first period in time.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein filtering the interferences comprises:

filtering electroencephalography generated artifacts from the functional magnetic resonance imaging data; and

filtering functional magnetic resonance imaging generated artifacts from at least one of the first or second electroencephalography data.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising aligning the functional magnetic resonance imaging data with at least one of the first electroencephalography data or the second electroencephalography data by at least one of time shifting or phase shifting at least one of the first electroencephalography data, the second electroencephalography data or the functional magnetic resonance imaging data.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising obtaining electrooculography data.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising obtaining eye tracking data.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

aligning the eye tracking data with at least one of the first electroencephalography data or the second electroencephalography data; and

combining the aligned data.

16. The method of claim 10 further comprising obtaining galvanic skin response data.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

aligning the galvanic skin response data with at least one of the first electroencephalography data or the second electroencephalography data; and

combining the aligned data.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising combining the first electroencephalography data and the second electroencephalography data to determine single trial evoked information.

19. A tangible machine readable storage device or disc comprising machine readable instructions thereon which, when read, cause a machine to at least:

filter interference from first electroencephalography data obtained from a first frequency band, second electroencephalography data obtained from a second frequency band different than the first frequency band and occurring at same period in time, and functional magnetic resonance imaging data, the first electroencephalography data, the second electroencephalography data and the functional magnetic resonance imagining data obtained from a subject exposed to an advertisement or entertainment;

detect a first pattern of oscillation in the first frequency band;

detect a second pattern of oscillation in the second frequency band;

generate a coupling index based on a phase synchrony between the first frequency band and the second frequency band, wherein the phase synchrony is determined by detecting a repeating sequence of relative phase angles between the first pattern of oscillation in the first frequency band and the second pattern of oscillation in the second frequency band; and

analyze the coupling index and the functional magnetic resonance imaging data to evaluate effectiveness of the advertisement or entertainment at the first period in time.

20. The machine readable device or disc of claim 19 , wherein the instructions further cause the machine to:

filter electroencephalography generated artifacts from the functional magnetic resonance imaging data; and

filter functional magnetic resonance imaging generated artifacts from at least one of the first or second electroencephalography data.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE (REEL 054066 / FRAME 0064) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063605/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 053473 / FRAME 0001) Recorded May 11, 2023
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063603/0001 →
RELEASE (REEL 037172 / FRAME 0415) Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
Reel/Frame 061750/0221 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 25, 2021
From: NIELSEN CONSUMER LLC; BYZZER INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 055742/0719 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2021
From: CITIBANK, N.A.
To: NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER LLC
Reel/Frame 055557/0949 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC
To: NIELSEN CONSUMER LLC
Reel/Frame 055265/0878 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1 RECORDED ON 6-9-2020 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 053473 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT. Recorded Oct 7, 2020
From: A.C. NIELSEN (ARGENTINA) S.A.; A.C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A
Reel/Frame 054066/0064 →
SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 9, 2020
From: A. C. NIELSEN COMPANY, LLC; ACN HOLDINGS INC.; ACNIELSEN CORPORATION; ACNIELSEN ERATINGS.COM; AFFINNOVA, INC.; ART HOLDING, L.L.C.; ATHENIAN LEASING CORPORATION; CZT/ACN TRADEMARKS, L.L.C.; EXELATE, INC.; GRACENOTE, INC.; GRACENOTE DIGITAL VENTURES, LLC; GRACENOTE MEDIA SERVICES, LLC; NETRATINGS, LLC; NIELSEN AUDIO, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER INSIGHTS, INC.; NIELSEN CONSUMER NEUROSCIENCE, INC.; NIELSEN FINANCE CO.; NIELSEN FINANCE LLC; NIELSEN INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; NIELSEN MOBILE, LLC; NIELSEN UK FINANCE I, LLC; NMR INVESTING I, INC.; TCG DIVESTITURE INC.; TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC; VIZU CORPORATION; VNU MARKETING INFORMATION, INC.; NMR LICENSING ASSOCIATES, L.P.; NIELSEN HOLDING AND FINANCE B.V.; THE NIELSEN COMPANY B.V.; VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: CITIBANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053473/0001 →
SUPPLEMENTAL IP SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2015
From: THE NIELSEN COMPANY ((US), LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT FOR THE FIRST LIEN SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 037172/0415 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2011
From: TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.
To: NEUROFOCUS, INC.
Reel/Frame 026805/0336 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 4, 2011
From: NEUROFOCUS, INC.
To: TNC (US) HOLDINGS INC., A NEW YORK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 026702/0285 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2011
From: TNC (US) HOLDINGS INC., A NEW YORK CORPORATION
To: THE NIELSEN COMPANY (US), LLC., A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026702/0376 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 5, 2010
From: NEUROFOCUS, INC.
To: TNC (US) HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 024183/0713 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2008
From: PRADEEP, ANANTHA; KNIGHT, ROBERT T.; GURUMOORTHY, RAMACHANDRAN
To: NEUROFOCUS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021668/0797 →