Tips & Tricks

Tips for EEG recording using Enobio or StarStim devices

Plan well before doing anything

Where do you want to place the electrodes? For how long do you want to record? Do you have a good naming scheme for your EEG files? What data formats do you want to save? Do you need accelerometry data? Do you want a line filter applied to the data (if so 50 or 60 Hz?)?

Do you have an electrode referencing scheme? You should include in your montage a solution for data referencing. Data will be recorded referenced to the device electrical ground (the CMS electrode), but for data analysis you should always reference the data to an electrode or to the electrode average.

And finally .. prepare to be patient. Setting up always takes a bit longer than expected, and the third time is the charm!

Clean up the mastoid area where you are going to attach the DRL/CMS electrodes (using Sticktrode adhesive electrodes)

You can use a paper napkin with some water or alcohol. Removing grease and dry skin will help you get good signal.

Place the DRL/CMS electrodes close to each other, with the DRL on the bottom

These two Sticktrode electrodes should be close to each other but not touch. The CMS electrode should be on top and squarely on top of the mastoid bone. This will avoid contamination from blood vessels (ECG like signals).

Avoid loose wires

Try to have a tidy setup with few loose wires. Loose wires are more prone to creating noise from movement.

About EEG signal quality measures in NIC

As of NIC v1.2, EEG signal quality measures for each electrode are provided in real time.

Everything about electrodes for EEG and stimulation

Please see http://www.neuroelectrics.com/sites/neuroelectrics.com/files/enobio/Electrodes_User_Manual.pdf for a description of our electrodes.

Caring for EEG electrodes

Caring for stimulation electrodes