AuReTim: an inexpensive and extensible open-source auditory psychomotor vigilance test

Straßer, Torsten; Rothert, Inga; Heine, Thomas; Peters, Tobias · 2023 · Crossref

DOI: 10.3389/frsle.2023.1168209

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Summary

This paper introduces AuReTim, an inexpensive, open-source, and portable auditory psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) designed for field studies. The development was motivated by the need for a low-cost, mobile tool to assess alertness and central nervous system activation within the NiviL research project, which investigates the non-visual effects of light on circadian rhythms and wellbeing. Existing PVTs often rely on expensive computer-based systems or lack the precision and extensibility required for rigorous scientific fieldwork. AuReTim addresses this by combining the mobility of tablet-based tests with the usability and connectivity of conventional computer-based setups. The system is built around a Raspberry Pi single-board computer running Java software, utilizing a resistive touchscreen for input and output, commercially available headphones for auditory stimuli, and a handheld push-button for response capture. The total hardware cost is under €150. The software implements two paradigms: an unprepared simple reaction time test and a go/no-go task for selective attention. To validate the system’s temporal accuracy, the authors conducted a simulation study using an OpenBCI bio-sensing device to record stimulus onset and simulated button presses. They analyzed the timing data using Bland-Altman plots and t-tests, correcting for systematic errors introduced by the sampling rate of the measurement device. The validation results demonstrated high precision, with limits of agreement between recorded and expected response delays ranging from −1.86 to 1.67 ms. The system showed no systematic bias in its internal timing records. In an application study, AuReTim was used to test 30 healthy participants under four lighting conditions varying in illuminance (200 lx vs. 1,000 lx) and correlated color temperature (2,200 K vs. 12,000 K). The findings revealed that the interaction between light spectrum and illuminance on alertness is complex. While cool white light (12,000 K) improved reaction times compared to warm white light (2,200 K) at low illuminance (200 lx), it resulted in longer reaction times at high illuminance (1,000 lx). Additionally, reaction times improved over time only under high illuminance conditions. AuReTim provides a validated, cost-effective solution for measuring psychomotor vigilance in operational and field environments. Its open-source nature allows for easy extensibility and integration with other research equipment, such as EEG systems. The study confirms that AuReTim is a reliable tool for assessing alertness, demonstrating that lighting parameters significantly influence cognitive performance in nuanced ways. This tool facilitates broader access to precise neurocognitive testing, particularly in studies involving sleep restriction, circadian rhythms, and the physiological effects of light.

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• Methodological Resource: tool software