Prediction of collision events: an EEG coherence analysis.

Objective: A common daily-life task is the interaction with moving objects for which prediction of collision events is required. To evaluate the sources of information used in this process, this EEG study required participants to judge whether two moving objects would collide with one another or not. In addition, the effect of a distractor object is evaluated.

Methods: The measurements included the behavioural decision time and accuracy, eye movement fixation times, and the neural dynamics which was determined by means of EEG coherence, expressing functional connectivity between brain areas.

Results: Collision judgment involved widespread information processing across both hemispheres. When a distractor object was present, task-related activity was increased whereas distractor activity induced modulation of local sensory processing. Also relevant were the parietal regions communicating with bilateral occipital and midline areas and a left-sided sensorimotor circuit.

Conclusions: Besides visual cues, cognitive and strategic strategies are used to establish a decision of events in time. When distracting information is introduced into the collision judgment process, it is managed at different processing levels and supported by distinct neural correlates.

Significance: These data shed light on the processing mechanisms that support judgment of collision events; an ability that implicates higher-order decision-making.