The PERFORM Mask: A Psychophysiological sEnsoRs Mask FOr Real-Life Cognitive Monitoring

Everyday life is driven by a wide range of mental processes organized in cognitive, emotional and executive functions. The assessment of these abilities could be improved thanks to the rising of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies, that show a more ecological validity in respect to the artificial laboratory settings. Moreover, mental processes can be investigated via electrophysiological measures, due to the modulation of deep structures controlling the autonomic system, and in turn peripheral organs activity. According to scientific literature, measurements could derive from sensors over periocular area, that is the same area covered by a typical VR headset. The aim of this paper is to introduce the PERFORM prototype, a wearable mask with embedded sensors able to collect biomedical signals in a non-obtrusive way for the assessment of online cognitive abilities in VR scenarios. We show that PERFORM can collect data related to cardiac pulse, galvanic skin response, movements and face temperature during cognitive tasks in VR. Thanks to the specific electrode placement and the employment of VR scenario, PERFORM will be an ecological tool to assess psychophysiological correlates of online cognitive performances.