Explore how the Psychological Neuroscience Lab at the University of Minho, in collaboration with University Hospital Centre São João, is using Mentalab Explore to study the impact of early tactile experiences on infant development during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their research involves recording babies' neural responses to touch using EEG, aiming to understand how touch influences well-being and to inform public policy.
In EEG research, noise refers to any unwanted signals detected by sensors, and maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio is crucial for accurate results. This involves careful experimental design to minimize artifacts and employing various mathematical techniques to clean data post-recording.
Choosing between wet and dry EEG electrodes depends on your research needs, with dry electrodes gaining popularity due to the rise of mobile EEG. While wet electrodes offer slightly superior signal quality and stability for stationary or shorter recordings, dry electrodes provide unparalleled convenience and faster setup times, especially for high-density systems or mobile applications where gel is impractical. The decision involves balancing data quality with ease of use, with ongoing advancements in both electrode technology and signal processing techniques continually narrowing the gap.
While 32 EEG channels have historically been the "gold standard" for research, new findings suggest that fewer channels can achieve comparable results with proper pre-processing techniques. Using fewer channels significantly reduces setup time, material costs, and participant discomfort, making research more efficient and accessible.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted scientific research, presenting challenges like financial uncertainty, limited lab access, and difficulties in participant recruitment, especially for at-risk groups. Mobile EEG solutions, such as Mentalab Explore, offer a powerful way to overcome these hurdles by enabling remote data collection, reducing costs, and facilitating adherence to safety guidelines, thus allowing research to continue seamlessly.
Mobile EEG devices are transforming neuroscience research by offering a portable and compact alternative to traditional, stationary systems. These ambulatory solutions address the disadvantages of conventional setups—such as complex setup, space requirements, participant discomfort, and limited ecological validity—by enabling cost-effective, comfortable, and naturalistic data collection in diverse environments.