EEG signals of Chinese character cognition under simulated prosthetic vision

In order to explore the cognitive mechanisms of Chinese character recognition under prosthetic vision, event-related potential techniques were used on a "learning-recognition" experimental paradigm with 540 high-frequency Chinese characters subjected to pixelation processing. The experiment was divided into the first learning stage and the second recognition stage. In each stage, fourty black-on-white pixelated single characters were presented on a computer screen. Subjects were required to perform a judgment task on 40 single characters presented during the recognition stage to examine whether the repeated appearance of pixelated Chinese characters could elicit a repetition effect in recognition. The results of the experiment showed that repeated single characters in the recognition stage produced a larger positive wave in the 250-800 ms, which is known as the repetition effect of recognition. In the 250-500 ms time range after stimulus presentation, the N400 wave amplitude decreased for the repeated appearance of pixelated Chinese characters. From 400 to 800 ms, the late positive component (LPC) gradually increased. Combined prosthetic vision experiments with neuroscience to explore the brain mechanisms of pixelated Chinese character processing could prrovide new ideas for the experimental design of prosthetic vision.