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An improvement in ecological validity is one of the significant challenges for 21st-century
neuroscience. At the same time, the study of neurocognitive processes in real-life situations requires
good control of all variables relevant to the results. One possible solution that combines the capability
of creating realistic experimental scenarios with adequate control of the test environment is virtual
reality. Our goal was to develop an integrative research workspace involving a CW-fNIRS and
head-mounted-display (HMD) technology dedicated to offline and online cognitive experiments. We
designed an experimental study in a repeated-measures model on a group of BCI-naïve participants
to verify our assumptions. The procedure included a 3D environment-adapted variant of the classic n-
back task (2-back version). Tasks were divided into offline (calibration) and online (feedback) sessions.
In both sessions, the signal was recorded during the cognitive task for within-group comparisons of
changes in oxy-Hb concentration in the regions of interest (the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-DLPFC
and middle frontal gyrus-MFG). In the online session, the recorded signal changes were translated
into real-time feedback. We hypothesized that it would be possible to obtain significantly higher
than the level-of-chance threshold classification accuracy for the enhanced attention engagement
(2-back task) vs. relaxed state in both conditions. Additionally, we measured participants′ subjective
experiences of the BCI control in terms of satisfaction. Our results confirmed hypotheses regarding
the offline condition. In accordance with the hypotheses, combining fNIRS and HMD technologies
enables the effective transfer of experimental cognitive procedures to a controlled VR environment.
This opens the new possibility of creating more ecologically valid studies and training procedures.
