REACH-DL | Psychology 1: EEG - Cortical Arousal

Plug the red, black and green leads into the REACH color coded ports.
Snap the leads onto the stickie electrodes, then place the stickie electrodes like this:

Make sure you snap the leads onto the stickie electrodes before putting them on yourself. Trim them if they are too big.

When you are ready to start recording data, just make sure the you relax and sit very still so there is no movement interference on the data.

To measure EEG with eyes open.

Click on the AutoScale button.
Type "Eyes Open" in the Mark box and click the Mark button. This will make a black mark with text on your screen.
Sit with your eyes open and record for approximately 2 minutes. Do not look at your computer screen, find something in the middle distance to focus on.
If you blink, click the F1 key on your keyboard to mark the recording, that way you know where the blinks are in reference to the regular EEG signals.
Click Stop after at least 2 minutes of recording are completed.
Click File ---> Save As, name the file "EEG-CorticalArousal", and save your data to your LabScribe Data folder on your Desktop.

To measure EEG with eyes closed.

Repeat the procedure for Exercise 1, only now sit with your eyes closed.
Click Record, mark the recording "Eyes Closed", close your eyes and record for at least 2 minutes. You may need to set a timer.
Click Stop and save your data after at least 2 minutes of recording.

Scroll through the data and try to find a 30 second blink-free section of data recorded while the your eyes were open.

If you cannot find a section of data without blinks – just position the cursors on either side of the 30 second section of data.

You may need to use the Double Display Time icon on the LabScribe toolbar to show the 30 second section of data on the Main window.

Look at the channels labeled Right Hemisphere Activity and Left Hemisphere Activity. The Mean value for these graphs shows the both the hemisphere activity level and which wave type, Alpha or Beta, is more active

When comparing one section of data: If the Right Hemisphere Activity value is higher than the Left, then the right hemisphere is more active than the left in that particular section of data.
When comparing two different sections of data (Eyes open vs Eyes closed): The mean value for the Activity level represents Beta wave activity.

Example: Eyes Open – Mean = 1.35 Eyes Closed – Mean = 0.804 shows that Beta activity is higher when eyes are open and Alpha activity is higher when eyes are closed.

Once you have written down the Mean Activity values for the Eyes Open section of data, scroll through the data and find a 30 second section of data recorded while the your eyes were closed. You can also record the data in the Journal. Open the Journal by clicking the “Notebook” icon and enter the information in the table. Click the icon again to close the Journal.
You may need to use the Double Display Time icon on the LabScribe toolbar to show the 30 second section of data on the Main window.
Write down the Right and Left Hemisphere Activity levels for the eyes closed section of data. Record the data in the Journal as well.

To measure the EEG while working on a specific task, like reading or doing math problems.

Repeat Exercise 1, except while recording your EEG, sit quietly and read a book or do math problems for 2 minutes.

You can find math problems online. They can be simple add/subtract/multiply and divide problems. Or...
Read a section of your textbook.
Mark the recording "Math" or "Reading" depending on the task you chose.

Repeat the data analysis from Exercise 1. Write down, or record in the Journal, both the Right and Left Hemisphere Activity value.

To measure the EEG while looking at pictures.

Repeat Exercise 1, except while recording your EEG, sit quietly and look at pictures in a magazine or a book. Do NOT read the words, just look at the images.
Mark the recording "Pictures".
Click Stop after 2 minutes.
Click Save to save your data.

Repeat the data analysis from Exercise 1. Write down, or record in the Journal, both the Right and Left Hemisphere Activity value.

Which hemisphere is more active while your eyes were open?
Are you using one side of your brain more than the other? What could account for this?
Which wave form is more active when your eyes are open? Closed?
Why is one brain wave more active when the eyes are open or closed?

Which hemisphere is more active while you were doing the math problems or reading?
Which hemisphere is more active while you were looking at pictures?
Are you using one side of your brain more than the other? What could account for this?
Which wave form is more active when you were doing math problems? Looking at pictures? What could account for the differences or similarities?