Brain Computer Interface: Behavioral Differences in the Calmness Level and Reading Time, Considering Screen or Paper, Serif or Sans Serif Typefaces

The main aim of this study was to understand the brain interaction and behavioral differences of the reading time and level of calmness related to the reading process (paper or screen; Sans Serif typefaces such as Agency, Calibri, or Arial; Serif typefaces such as Times, Bodoni, and Cambria; and levels of text complexity such as scientific or children’s text). Two experiments were conducted with a sample of 29 (20 + 9) participants, to understand which typeface (Serif or Sans Serif) presents a shorter reading time and higher levels of calmness, considering two different complexity texts (children and scientific) in two different forms of interaction (paper reading and screen reading). Signal acquisition was performed using MUSE EEG headphones during the tests we used various sensors, such as the Brain Computer Interface (BCI), to measure brain activity (active, neutral, and calm). The results of the two experiments demonstrate that Sans Serif typeface exhibits shorter reading times and higher levels of calmness than Serif typeface, especially when the text is read on a screen. In sum, different typefaces (Sans Serif and Serif) influenced the participants brain activity.