EEG Tips & Tricks

Here are some helpful tips and notes based on common issues in prior studies

Equipment:

  • Be extra careful not to get the splitter box wet.
  • Keep the batteries plugged into a charger when not in use
  • Use the lithium battery as the main battery.
  • The laptop needs to be powered off and plugged into a charger when not in use.
  • Avoid using chairs with wheels or wheels that do not lock
    • This helps prevent participants from moving around during the EEG session
  • Invest in more comfortable seating options if needed, as sessions can take up to two hours.
  • Cleaning instructions: https://pressrelease.brainproducts.com/disinfecting/

Setup:

  • Make sure photosensor is removed and there is something blocking the photosensor dot in the bottom left corner of the monitor.
  • Keep laptop screen out of the participant's eyesight during the EEG run.
  • Practice good wire management to prevent tripping and cords from being yanked
    • Tie or tape up wires 
  • Confirm the distance from the monitor to the participant is 70 cm, 
    • Place tape on the floor to mark proper placement of the monitor and the chair.
  • Monitor height needs to be eye-level with participant.
  • If electrode lights are not appearing on either/both ribbon cables:
    • Disconnect and reconnect the battery
    • If this does not work, it could be a sign there is water damage in the splitter box
  • When one person is building the cap:
    • Wedge the styrofoam head between your knees to hold it in place.

Running EEG Sessions:

  • If encountering any error messages or issues during a run, try a full reboot of the laptop and reseat the connections, rather than restarting the software.
  • It is important that the EEG is done towards the beginning of the day, so that the participant is not too tired during the session.
  • When applying gel, it can be helpful to get Black GND, Green #1, and Blue REF's impedances as low as possible. This should aid in the lowering of impedances for other electrodes. To check the impedances for individual electrodes, hover the mouse over the electrode on the "Check Impedance" screen.
  • In between runs when there is a pause, electrodes that are noisy can have more gel inserted or be further prepped. If checking the impedance using the impedance screen is needed, the session should be restarted and skipped back to the most recent run.
  • In the event that incorrect event marker codes appear, check that the stimulus box is plugged in or powered on and restart the laptop.
  • If the impedance window does not appear after clicking on the icon, check the edges of the screen to see if it needs to be dragged into view.
  • In two room configurations, try to check in with the participants to see how they're doing throughout the session. 

Troubleshooting: