H2020Doctoral network2018–2023

RHUMBO · modelling and pRedicting Human decision-making Using Measures of subconscious Brain processes through mixed reality interfaces and biOmetric signals

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2018-11-01 → 2023-04-30
EU contribution
€2,904,216
Participants
10
Scheme
MSCA-ITN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

modelling and pRedicting Human decision-making Using Measures of subconscious Brain processes through mixed reality interfaces and biOmetric signals

RHUMBO, a pioneering research project, aims to revolutionize business practices amidst the evolving technological landscape. In this changing world, companies no longer wield full control over media and messaging. Simultaneously, consumers have become increasingly discerning, informed, and proactive, losing trust in traditional approaches. To address these challenges, RHUMBO has developed a suite of tools and models that utilize mixed reality technologies (MRT) and biometric signals, supported by artificial intelligence, to predict human decision-making in dynamic business environments. The primary focus has been on understanding consumer behavior and psychological states during complex, realistic situations. The research yielded remarkable outcomes and insights: 1. Digital biomarkers of consumer behavior were successfully developed, using metrics such as eye tracking, navigation, and neuroscientific measures like EEG, ECG, and GSR. These biomarkers could predict consumer facets like demographics and personality traits. 2. Contextual information's influence on consumers' cognitive processes in virtual retailing was analyzed, including factors like product layout and banners affecting stress, confusion, and joy levels. 3. Social cues within virtual stores were found to influence consumer behavior, with avatars adapting based on shoppers' stress levels to enhance the shopping experience. 4. Novel EEG metrics were explored to understand narrative cognition in video advertisements and paintings, leading to increased engagement and shared understanding across subjects. 5. Nonlinear dynamical systems theory was employed to assess cognitive states through observed signals from modalities like fMRI, fNIRS, and EEG, enabling classification of cognitive states and exploring neural substrates. 6. The brain-heart interplay and its role in cognition and emotions were studied, providing insights into emotional responses' physiological basis and opportunities for neuromarketing. 7. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to estimate respiratory rate during physical activity, demonstrating potential applications in stress assessment and sports studies. 8. The uHD EEG system was developed, enabling high-resolution brain activity measurement for various applications like sports science and medical diagnostics. 9. Real-time applications of the uHD EEG system were explored, with wireless streaming allowing for brain activity-based control mechanisms in virtual reality environments, revolutionizing fields like gaming and rehabilitation. 10. More reliable methods to measure emotional and cognitive responses in virtual store settings were developed using EEG-based metrics and facial electromyography, contributing to understanding and measuring consumer responses. RHUMBO's achievements span scientific, educational, and training domains, nurturing young scientists and disseminating neuroscience-based business methods to various stakeholders. These advancements have the potential to reshape consumer behavior analysis, marketing strategies, and virtual reality interactions.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Recent breakthroughs in neuroeconomics are helping to understand how the human decision-making process takes place. Although latest advances have revealed that most of the brain processes that regulate our emotions, attitudes and decisions are beyond our consciousness (implicit processes), many companies are still making strategic decisions relying upon explicit measures such as questionnaires and focus groups. However, the consumer neuroscience market is rapidly growing and demands new knowledge, new skills and new approaches to adapt to the technological evolution of the sector but also for comprehending and communicating with consumers. These requests only find a partial match in existing doctoral programmes.RHUMBO addresses this challenge by delivering an innovative multinational, multi-sectorial, and multidisciplinary research and training programme in cognitive neuroscience, transparently immersive experiences and artificial intelligence with a focus on neuro-business.From the research point of view, RHUMBO will produce tools and models to predict human decision-making in business environments. RHUMBO will use mixed reality technologies (MRT) together with different biometric signals (fMRI, fNIRS, eye tracking, EEG, etc.), supported by artificial intelligence processing techniques, to examine consumer behavioural patterns during dynamic, complex and realistic situations for a deeper understanding of internal consumer psychological states.With this purpose, RHUMBO’s partnership aggregates relevant scientific staff from the academic and corporate worlds which will be involved in a high-level personalised training programme that will guarantee ESRs and future PhD students outstanding Career Opportunities in the consumer behaviour sector and beyond. RHUMBO will disseminate results to a wide spectrum of stakeholders, create awareness in the general public about neuroscience and encourage neuroscience vocational careers among young students.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA · ValenciaCoordinatorSpain
  • AALBORG UNIVERSITET · AalborgDenmark
  • ARTINIS MEDICAL SYSTEMS BV · ElstNetherlands
  • G.TEC MEDICAL ENGINEERING GMBH · SCHIEDLBERGAustria
  • NEURONS INC APS · HolbaekDenmark
  • STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITEIT · NijmegenNetherlands
  • UNIVERSITA DI PISA · PisaItaly
  • UNIVERSITAT DE VALENCIA · ValenciaSpain
  • UNIVERSITAT LINZ · LinzAustria
  • UNIVERSITATSKLINIKUM BONN · BonnGermany

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union