Running a Baby EEG experiment: checklist

This is a general checklist for both infant EEG experiments. For more the adult version of the checklist, please see Running an EEG experiment: Piloting your Experiment.

Preparation

In the control room:

• Turn on  the Recording and the Presentation computers, and turn on all the screens.
  • In K.13: the screens are turned on by turning on the ‘Main Power’ plugbox (on the right of the desk).
• Select an infant movie to play (if applicable).
  • In K.13: Set the video switch to the correct screen.
• Turn on the speakers
  • In K.02: (in the cabin) turn on the speakers you want by turning on the corresponding plug box in the cabin.
  • In K.13: Turn on the desired amplifier and set the audio switch to corresponding  amplifier
• Before the participant is in the lab, run the experiment once to check whether sound and visual stimuli work well.

In the test room:

• Check the battery power; if the battery is somewhat empty it’s recommended you switch out the battery with the spare one in the control room (which should be full).
  • You can check the battery level through ActiView, or by connecting it to the charger. If the charger gives you a green light, it’s good to go. If it’s orange, you should only use it if the other battery is empty as well.
• Connect the battery to the amplifier (EEG and ABR experiments use different modules/amplifier): connect 4 sides. Lift the black connector slightly until you hear a click, then close gently. Finally connect the battery to the amplifier with the blue connector in the front.
• Put gel into syringe
• Get one EEG cap (there’s a size-chart in the closet containing the caps)
• Get the electrodes bundle (32 Channel)
• Turn on the air humidifier (only in K.13)
• Check the sound level using the audiometer. A loudness of 65 dB is recommended for the sound stimuli.
• Put the sound absorbing towel on top of the table
• Put the toys on the table (if applicable)
• Optional: prepare the cap in advance

Receive the participant

For infant experiments:

• Welcome the parent and the baby in the waiting area (K.01). Take them to the lab
• Switch off your mobile phone and make sure the participant does the same.
• Have the participant remove any jewelry (e.g. necklaces or earrings).
• Put a little bit of gel on the baby’s wrist.
• Explain to the parent what the experiment is about and what is expected of them/what they can expect. Tell the parents:
  • Don’t let the baby pull the hat or the electrodes.
  • Don’t talk during the experiment.
  • If the baby gets fuzzy, you can stop at any time.
• Check the baby’s wrist for allergic reactions. If absent, continue with the experiment.

Start the experiment

In the test room:

• Clean the skin behind the participant’s ear with a cotton pad with alcohol.
• Put EXG1 on the left mastoid and EXG2 on the right mastoid, connect these two electrodes to the amplifier in the drawer.
• Put on the cap.
• Put gel into all electrodes.
• Connect electrodes to the corresponding holes in the cap and to the amplifier.
• Turn on the amplifier and check the blue light.

In the control room:

• Click the BioSemi icon on the Recording PC desktop in the control room.
• Click “start” on the BioSemi window, you should see all the electrodes now.
• Check impedance: go to tab “electrode offset”, set the scale on the left to 50mv, and all the blue bars should be in the range ±25mv.
• Set reference to Cz: go to the tab “monopolar display”. On the left of the screen, click “Free choice” under “Reference”, and use the menu below to select Cz.
• Click “Start File” at the right bottom of the BioSemi window.
• Type in the participant’s information and save in your data folder.
• Click “pause save”, otherwise you are not recording!
• Open OBS Studio and click ‘Start recording’.
• On Presentation PC, open the experiment file, click run.
• Fill in the name of the participant in the pop up window “Enter Subject Name/ID”, in the same format as in ActiView (Recording PC).
• Use Enter key on the keyboard to start experiment. Use Esc if you want to abort the experiment.
• On the Recording PC, check whether triggers are sent. If not, call lab support.

After the experiment (infants)

• Ask if the parent wants to wash their baby’s head.
• Collect consent form from the parent.
• Give the baby the gift (if applicable).
• Reimburse travel expenses.
• Ask for remaining questions.

Cleaning

• Clean the cap and electrodes
• Always use lukewarm water
• Never let electrodes sit under running water!
• Put away the toys and the cushion (if applicable)
• Fill in the experiment report