Psychophysiology Lab
Main system: Electroencephalography (EEG)
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a safe and non-invasive method for studying brain activity in real-time. It uses electrodes placed on the scalp to pick up naturally occurring electrical activity in the brain, helping researchers to understand neural processes at the millisecond scale. Our researchers use the new knowledge of these neural processes to predict how the brain is likely to respond before the person does!
EEG can be used for a wide range of questions and research fields, from auditory and vision neuroscience to psycholinguistics and music. The lab is equipped with an advanced high-density 256-electrode BioSemi system, providing excellent data quality and efficient experimental setups, including fast capping. Our researchers can also test brain activity when humans are working with each other, which can be useful for music performance, or human teaming.
Some of our other psychophysiology labs can measure brain activity using neuro-electrical activation with neuro-hemodynamic activation with functional Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), while our other labs stimulate the neurons with electrical current via Transcranial Current Stimulation (tCS) or with magnetic fields via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
Left: a close up of the EEG cap. Electrodes are held in place by the white markers. Right: a participant examines images while the EEG records neural activity.
Left: two participants are conducting a study where they have to perform a task together. In this part of the experiment, the participants cannot see each other, and the EEG records brain activity to see if their neural activity synchronises. Right: the electrode require a bit of gel so that the brain activity can be measured through the skin. the gel is washable and non-toxic, even to children.
