From Hemoglobin to MOS: Towards Neuro-Based QoE Assessment Using fNIRS

摘要

Understanding and measuring Quality of Experience (QoE) is crucial for optimized but still user-centered multimedia systems. However, current assessment methods rely largely on one-dimensional subjective ratings collected post hoc and therefore fail to capture how users actually experience quality in real time. Inspired by advances in neuroimaging, we investigate whether QoE can be assessed directly from brain activity. We propose a novel approach using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to objectively measure perceptual quality during multimedia service interaction. In a preliminary study with 8 participants, we recorded fNIRS signals while viewers watched videos of varying quality. Results show a statistically significant increase in oxygenated-hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex in low quality conditions, suggesting elevated cognitive effort or reduced perceptual fluency. These findings establish a neural signature of degraded quality perception and demonstrate the usefullness of fNIRS for neuro-based objective QoE estimation. Unlike traditional techniques, our method provides continuous, real-time, implicit quality measurement without interrupting the user. This work calls for a rethinking of QoE as a neuroperceptual phenomenon rather than a subjective judgment and propose a neuro-based QoE framework.