Brainwave correlates of confidence and perceptual strength, applied to forensic face identification

Our project aims to investigate the cognitive and metacognitive aspects of brainwave activity in the context of forensic face identification. This involves percept formation to enable a brain to "see" a face and "recognise" it. In order to characterise the conscious and subconscious processes underlying this phenomenon, an objective means of communication between the brain and an external device like a computer needs to be established. A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) serves as a conduit for real-time communication between the brain and a computer, using neuroimaging techniques to translate neural activity into interpretable information.
Previous work in our lab has shown that a BCI speller based upon Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) and a brainwave response, called the P3, can be developed (Chennu et al., 2013). This is one application of what we call the Fringe-P3 method. Additionally, studies utilizing this method have shown how salient information breaks into consciousness in an RSVP, with familiar faces a particular example (Bowman et al., 2013).
Our specific objectives for this case studentship are as follows: 1. to replicate the Fringe-P3 method for facial identification and to optimize parameters influencing detection of P3 responses; 2. to utilise machine learning tools for time-domain analysis to ascertain the correlation between meta-cognition and P3 responses; 3. to investigate the variables that modulate the size of the P3 response in order to determine the differential brain activity across facial information of varying relevance; and 4. to explore the application of the Fringe-P3 method to improving forensic procedures, particularly in enhancing police line-up identifications.