EEG Research Data Collection Manual

When the participant arrives… Welcome them in to the room and briefly explain the nature of the study (that it is an EEG study, and that they will have the opportunity to wash their hair after the study is complete etc.). Ask the participant to read the consent form and sign

Prepare the Solution 2 L hot water 2 scoops of potassium chloride 2 scoops of Johnson’s baby shampoo Mix together with the shampoo spoon Note: If you are running more than one session in a row you can reuse this solution as long as it is still warm

You can then outfit the participant in a lab coat. The sizes range from A small female would probably wear the 42, and anyone over about 6 feet in height will probably be most comfortable in the 48.

Next, ask them to take a seat in the chair. You will now have to take a measurement of their head to determine which EEG mask to use. To do this take a measurement around their head that starts at the middle of their forehead and rests on the bone at the back of their head.

Once you have determined this measurement, you can pick the appropriate ERP mask and set it in to the solution you have already prepared. First dunk the mask in and out a few times and then set it in for 10 minutes (which you will time on the timer). It is important to ensure that you do not get the other end of the ERP equipment wet, as well as any part of the white cord

Measuring the CZ: Take a measurement of the participants head from the middle of their forehead, to the bone at the back of their skull. (This time the tape will run over the top of their head) Divide the number in half and mark a line at this point Take a measurement over the top of the participant’s head from the little flap of cartilage in the middle of their ear to the same spot on the other side Divide the number in half and mark a line at this point The CZ will be the intersection of these two lines. Mark this with a dot.

Use the red crayon to draw on the participant’s scalp In these 10 minutes you can also get the participant to fill out the demographic question, and chat with them.

Putting On the Mask When the timer goes off you can put the dry end of the ERP equipment over your shoulder resting on a towel and dab the excess solution of the mask portion on a towel. You can then bring the mask over to near the participant.

Get your hands within the mask and stretch it out. Try to get on the participant as gently as possible while aligning the eye holes up with their eyes and the ear holes up with their ears. If you need to make some adjustments later you can grip the netting of the mask and adjust.

Fine Adjustments Be sure that the ears are lined up first Align the CZ electrode with the red dot you made for the CZ Adjust the toggles on the front of the mask and under the chin. Be sure that the toggles on the side of the face are tight enough that the electrodes spread out nicely over the cheek area Flip any electrodes that are facing the wrong direction over

And finally… Make sure the participant has a towel in their hands that they can use to dab their face when drops of the solution come near their eyes. They will hold on to this towel for the whole experiment. Be sure that they are as comfortable as possible. You can now take the participant over to the experiment room.