Thinking of studying babies using EEG? Read on to find out how some of our partners did it.
Since launching our mobile EEG device Mentalab Explore in 2020, we have engaged in a number of exciting collaborations with world-renowned universities, clinics, technological institutes, and research centers.
One partnership we are particularly proud of is with the Psychological Neuroscience Lab, which is part of the Psychology Research Centre (CIPsi) at the University of Minho in Portugal.
In collaboration with University Hospital Centre São João, researchers at CIPsi are using Mentalab Explore to investigate the impact of babies’ early tactile experiences on their development during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As a Mentalab representative, I was on-site to help set up data collection and provide technical assistance.
With the kind consent of Prof. Sampaio and Prof. Mesquita, we are excited to share their progress with you.
Studying babies with EEG
The Psychological Neuroscience Lab studied children aged 6 and 12 months. In the experimental group, babies were born while their mothers tested positive for Sars-CoV-2. In the control group, the mothers tested negative.
Several parameters were considered. These included: an evaluation of the babies’ development (coordination, language, social and motor skills); a maternal rating of babies’ sensory profiles; pandemic-related factors; and epigenetic data.
The researchers also used EEG with the infants. While sitting on their mother’s lap watching a cartoon, the lab recorded the babies’ neural responses to affective and discriminative tactile stimuli.
Here, the scientists used the Mentalab Explore EEG device and a neoprene EEG cap with ring gel electrodes.
Why study babies with EEG
The Psychological Neuroscience Lab are using Mentalab Explore to better understand the molecular and neural mechanisms involved in the processing of affective touch. In particular, they are interested in studying babies with different early life touch experiences.
They are looking to identify how the well-being of babies is influenced by touch. This knowledge will be crucial to public policy during COVID-19 and beyond.
Challenges of studying babies with EEG
Naturally, such a complex experiment comes with challenges. Joana Antunes, CIPsi research fellow and member of the research team, kindly shared some insights.
Firstly, recruiting participants was challenging during the pandemic, because the lab is so selective. Fortunately, the situation in Portugal improved, and by collaborating with the hospital, the scientists had a broad outreach.
Another challenge is typical of neurodevelopment research. Babies’ head sizes vary, as does their behavior. Babies do not always sit still and let researchers set-up their equipment.
Some babies are more reactive, so carrying out the paradigm can be a great challenge; others are very relaxed and we can observe how they really enjoy the proposed activity
Joana Antunes
As for the equipment, Joana was grateful for the support provided by Mentalab
When technical issues or software questions came up, the Mentalab support team was always quick to assist.
Joana Antunes
Importantly, babies cannot report their mental states verbally. Therefore, it is especially important to use techniques like EEG to study neurodevelopment.
Because Mentalab Explore is so small and mobile, the team was able to move their equipment to various testing sites — a hospital, partner clinics and the university — which allowed them to have a larger and more varied sample.
Explore’s size also reduced set-up time and allowed the babies to sit on their mother’s lap without being tied to equipment. Because of this, the young participants were more comfortable and relaxed.
The future of neurodevelopmental EEG research
Prof. Mesquita’s team will continue acquiring data with Mentalab Explore until early Summer, 2022.
We are very curious to learn how the self-reported, behavioral and epigenetic data will correlate with neurophysiological measures. Above all, we see this as the beginning of a long-lasting and fruitful partnership with the University of Minho.
If you are as curious as we are, stay tuned for the Psychological Neuroscience Lab’s upcoming publications.
