Immersive Virtual Reality and EEG Recording System to Detect Neurophysiological Signatures Related to Cognitive Behavior

Immersive virtual reality (VR) enables ecologically valid environments for brain–machine interface and cognitive neuroscience research, but studying neurophysiological signatures of behaviour in VR requires precise synchronization between experimental events, behavioural variables, and EEG recordings. We present a reproducible, open-source synchronization platform for immersive EEG–VR experiments using a Meta Quest 3/3S headset and an 8- or 16-channel OpenBCI EEG system. The platform integrates Unity-based VR event generation and Lab Streaming Layer (LSL) acquisition, with low-latency communication via ESP32-based external pulse generators. Customizable Unity event markers are converted into unified timestamps across EEG, VR, and behavioural streams, enabling automatic alignment of neural activity with trial onset, visual transitions, navigation periods, responses, feedback, and movement variables such as headset position and orientation. EEG was sampled at 250 Hz and the VR stream at 72 Hz. Repeated laboratory measurements yielded a mean synchronization offset of 18.10 ± 1.77 ms (n=144), a 49.7% reduction in offset and 69.3% reduction in jitter versus the fastest system reported in the literature, demonstrating competitive temporal precision. The platform offers a scalable, reproducible framework for time-sensitive neuroscience, including brain–computer interfaces, spatial navigation, memory-guided behaviour, attention, and event-related potential analyses.