Tips & Tricks
Contents
Tips for EEG recording using Enobio or StarStim devices
Plan your session well before starting
You should have a clear plan covering all the details in your recording session. Prepare to be patient. Setting up always takes a bit longer than expected, and when carrying out experiments ... the third time's the charm!
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.
Place carefully the CMS and DRL electrodes
These two electrodes should go over the left or right mastoid (best to always stick to one side). First 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.
Stick 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.
If all the channels are in yellow or red zone, you may have an issue with the CMS/DRL electrodes (they create the ground for measurements, so if they are misplaced all the signals will be affected).
If an electrode is misbehavig, check that it has a good contact and, if possible, add more gel (you can reach the site from another hole in the cap.
Tips for great Stimulation sessions using StarStim
Using Sponge electrodes
Using Ag/AgCl Pi electrodes
The impedance test
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
