LAB MANUAL

OF
ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY
Contents
Electroencephalography
Required Equipment
Power Lab
Lab Tutor
Lab Chart
Conclusion

Contents
Electroencephalography
Required Equipment
Power Lab
Lab Tutor
Lab Chart
Conclusion

Electroencephalography (EEG)

The cerebral cortex contains huge numbers of neurons. Activity of these neurons is to
some extent synchronized in regular firing rhythms. These are referred to as brain waves.
Electrodes placed in pairs on the scalp can pick up variations in electrical potential that
derive from this underlying cortical activity. The recording of the electrical activity is
called an electroencephalogram (EEG). EEG signals are affected by the state of arousal
of the cerebral cortex and show characteristic changes in different stages of sleep. EEG
signals are also affected by stimulation from the external environment and brain waves
can become entrained to external stimuli. Electroencephalography is used, among other
things, in the diagnosis of epilepsy and the diagnosis of brain death.
EEG in the States of Vigilance

Frequency Ranges of Heart Rhythms:

Beta: 13 30 Hz
Alpha: 8 13 Hz
Theta: 4 8 Hz
Delta: 0.5 4 Hz

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Alpha Rhythm
Frequency: 8 13 Hz
Amplitude: 30 50 microVolt peak-to-peak
Location: Occipital, Parietal
State of Mind: Alert Restfulness
Alpha blockade occurs when
new stimulus is processed.
Source: oscillating thalamic
pacemaker neurons

Beta Rhythm
Frequency: 13 30 Hz
Amplitude: <20 microVolt peak-to-peak
Location: Frontal
State of Mind: Mental Activity
Reflects specific information
processing between cortex and
Thalamus.
Theta Rhythm
Frequency: 4 8 Hz
Amplitude: <30 microVolt peak-to-peak
Location: Frontal, Temporal
State of Mind: Sleepiness
Nucleus reticularis slows oscillating
thalamic neurons.Therefore
diminished sensory throughput
to cortex.
Delta Rhythm
Frequency: 0.5 4 Hz
Amplitude: 100 200 microVolt peak-to-peak
Location: Variable
State of Mind: Deep sleep
Oscillations in Thalamus and deep cortical
Layers. Usually inibited by ARAS
(Ascending Reticular Activation System)

Contents
Electroencephalography
Required Equipment
Power Lab
Lab Tutor
Lab Chart
Conclusion

Required Equipment

Lab Chart software
Power Lab Data Acquisition Unit
5 Lead Shielded Bio Amp Cable
EEG Flat Electrodes
Electrode Paste
Abrasive Gel or Abrasive Pad
Alcohol Swabs
Ballpoint pen
Medical tape
Elastic bandage
Contents
Electroencephalography
Required Equipment
Power Lab
Lab Tutor
Lab Chart
Conclusion

Power Lab
It is a data acquisition system developed by AD Instruments comprising
hardware and software and designed for use in life science research and
teaching applications. It is commonly used in physiology, pharmacology,
biomedical engineering, sports/exercise studies and psychophysiology
laboratories to record and analyze physiological signals from human or
animal subjects or from isolated organs. The system consists of an input
device connected to a Microsoft Windows or MaC OS computer using
a USB cable and LabChart software which is supplied with the PowerLab
and provides the recording, display and analysis functions.
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Software used:
o Lab Tutor
o Lab Chart
Contents
Electroencephalography
Required Equipment
Power Lab
Lab Tutor
Lab Chart
Conclusion

Lab Tutor
Software provides a range of hands-on laboratory background for students that
includes experimental background & protocols, data acquisition & analysis, and
report generation within one interface. The software and accompanying PowerLab
hardware is configured for immediate use with step by step instructions designed to
maximize student productivity by applying independent learning techniques to a
suite of human and animal physiological experiments. Recently, LabAuthor
software was released to provide educators the ability to design or edit existing
LabTutor experiments and tailor the experiments to suit their practical classes
without the need of programming or html skills.

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Equipment Setup:
Plug the Bio-Amp cable into the Bio-Amp socket on the PowerLab.
Connect the leads of three EEG flat electrodes
to Earth, CH1 NEG and POS, on the Bio-Amp
cable.

Exercise 1: Recognizing Artifacts
Blinking Artifact
Click Start and ask the volunteer to blink repeatedly.
Watch the volunteer and push the enter key to enter the comment each time the
volunteer blinks. After 5 to 10 seconds, click Stop.
Eye Movements
Click Start and ask the volunteer to gaze alternately left and then right in a
repeated pattern. The volunteer should keep the head still during these
movements.
Watch the volunteer and push the enter key to enter the comment each time their
eyes moves. After 5 to 10 seconds, click Stop.

Contd
Head Movements
Click Start and ask the volunteer to move
head alternately left and then right in a
repeated pattern.
Watch the volunteer and push the enter
key to enter the comment each time their
head moves.
After 5 to 10 seconds, click Stop.

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Analysis
Examine the recordings using scroll bar at the bottom of the LabTutor panel and by
adjusting the vertical scale.
True EEG signal rarely exceed +50V and -50V. We have to find the large signals
outside the 50V range that belong to blinking artifacts, eye movements and head
movements. These large signals are artifacts.

Exercise 2: alpha and beta rhythm
Ensure that the volunteer is relaxed and is lying quietly with both eyes open.
Click Start.
Type shut in the comments panel. After about 30 seconds, ask the volunteer to
shut both the eyes. Immediately click Add to enter the comment and continue
recording.
Type open in the comments panel. After about 30 seconds, ask the volunteer to
open both the eyes. Immediately click Add to enter the comment.
Record for a few more seconds and then click Stop.
Repeat this procedure twice more to give three sets of result.

Contd
Analysis
From the first recording, for the period when the volunteers eyes were open
select a portion relatively free from artifacts.
On making a selection the four value panels will display measurements of
amplitude and frequency for both alpha and beta waves for selected period. Drag
values to appropriate cell in the table.
Repeat the same for eyes shut and for two other recordings. The table will
display average amplitude and frequency along with the standard deviation.
Once completed use the navigation buttons below the table to view a graph of
these variables.

Contd

Exercise 3: Mental Activity
Ensure that the volunteer is relaxed and is lying quietly with both eyes closed.
Click Start.
Enter the comment shut in the comments panel. After about 30 seconds of
sustained alpha rhythm give the volunteer some instructions regarding some easy
arithmetic calculation. Instruct to merely think the response and not to speak it.
Add the comment math when you instruct to start the mental arithmetic.
After another 30 seconds instruct the volunteer to stop calculating and to relax.
Record for a few more seconds and then click Stop.
Repeat the procedure for further sets of recording.

Contd
Analysis
From the first recording, for the period when the volunteers eyes were shut but
they werent perform any mental arithmetic.
Drag the calculated measurements of amplitude and frequency from the value
panels to appropriate cell in the table.
Repeat the same for eyes shut with and without arithmetic for two other
recordings. The table will display average amplitude and frequency along with
the standard deviation.
Once completed use the navigation buttons below the table to view a graph of
these variables.

Contd
Exercise 3: Auditory Stimulation
Well need a set of headphones and a method of playing music to a subject.
Cue the following types of music for presentation to the volunteer:
Soothing (classical) music, volume low
Soothing (classical) music, volume high
English (Rock) music, volume low
English (Rock) music, volume high
Ensure that the volunteer is relaxed and is lying quietly with headphones on and
the both eyes closed.


Contd
Click Start.
Enter the comment shut in the comments panel. After about 30 seconds of
sustained alpha rhythm present the first type of music and add an appropriate
comment.
After another 30 seconds of recording stop the music.
Record for a few more seconds and then click Stop.
Repeat this procedure for each different type and volume of music.

Contd
Analysis
From the first recording, for the period when the volunteers eyes were shut with
no music playing.
Drag the calculated measurements of amplitude and frequency from the value
panels to appropriate cell in the table.
Repeat the same for eyes shut with and without the different types of music for
two other recordings. The table will display average amplitude and frequency.
Once completed use the navigation buttons below the table to view a graph of
these variables.

Contd
Contents
Electroencephalography
Required Equipment
Power Lab
Lab Tutor
Lab Chart
Conclusion

Lab Chart
Formerly known as Chart. The software functions like a traditional multi-
channel chart recorder, XY plotter, polygraph and digital voltmeter. The software
has hardware settings control, performs analysis in real-time and offline without the
loss of raw data, procedure automation via editable macros, and multiple block
samplings for the recording and settings of different signals within one file. The last
version of LabChart6 (version 6.1.3) was released on January 2009.
In April 2009, LabChart 7 was released and incorporates the features of a multi-
channel digital oscilloscope that allows recording and averaging of up to sixteen
signals in real time. Latest version of LabChart7 is version 7.0.

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Equipment Setup:
Plug the Bio-Amp cable into the Bio-Amp socket on the PowerLab.
Connect the leads of three EEG flat electrodes
to Earth, CH1 NEG and POS, on the Bio-Amp
cable.

Exercise 1: Recognizing Artifacts
Launch Lab Chart and open the settings file EEG Settings from the Experiments tab in
the Welcome Center. It will be located in the folder for this experiment.
Select Bio Amp from the EEG Channel Function pop-up menu. It should be the only
channel visible. Make sure the settings are as follows: Range 200 V, High Pass 0.5 Hz,
and Low Pass 50 Hz.
Start recording. Add a comment blinking, and have the volunteer blink repeatedly.
Stop recording after 10 seconds.
Repeat step 3, this time, have the volunteer make eye movements. Add a comment eye
movements. Have the volunteer gaze up-and-down and left-and-right in a repeated
pattern. Make sure the volunteers head is still and only the eyes move.


Contd
Repeat step 3, this time, have the volunteer make head movements. Add a
comment head movements. Have the volunteer gently move his/her head in a
repeated pattern.
Save your data, and open a new file with the same settings.

Contd
Analysis
Examine the vertical scale at the left of
the Chart View, and note the positions
corresponding to +50 V and 50 V.
True EEG signals rarely exceed these
limits.
Examine the entire data trace and
Autoscale, if necessary. There may be
some large signals outside the 75 V
range. Such large signals are artifacts.

Exercise 2: Alpha Waves in the EEG
Make sure the volunteer is relaxed and comfortable. Have the volunteer close his/her
eyes and remain quiet. Keep noise to a minimum and keep all distractions away from the
volunteer.
Start recording. Record for 30 seconds. Prepare a comment with open; do not enter it
yet. Tell the volunteer to open both eyes. Immediately press Return/Enter to add the
comment.
Record with the volunteers eyes open for 10 seconds. Do not stop recording.
Prepare a comment with shut. When the 10 seconds are complete, tell the volunteer to
close both eyes. Immediately press Return/Enter to add the comment.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 twice, to give you three sets of results. Save your data.

Contd
Analysis
Examine the entire data trace. Use the View Buttons to change the horizontal
compression to see data with eyes open and shut. Make a data selection that includes
some data from both eyes open and eyes shut conditions. View this selection in Zoom
View. This should make it easier to see the alpha wave activity. Now Autoscale, if
necessary.
In Chart View scroll through the parts of the recording that were made with the
volunteers eyes shut to look for alpha waves. Use the View Buttons to change the
horizontal compression if necessary. The alpha waves can be recognized by their
amplitude (usually 30 to 50 V peak-to-peak, although it can be quite variable) and their
frequency. Each cycle of an alpha wave should last approximately 0.1 s.

Contd
Analysis
Use the Marker and Waveform Cursor to
measure the amplitude of the alpha waves.
Place the Marker at the lowest point of the
wave and move the Waveform Cursor to
the peak of the wave. Measure the
amplitudes of five waves from when the
volunteers eyes were closed. Record the
values in Table 1 of the Data Notebook.
Now measure wave amplitudes when the
volunteers eyes were open. Record these
values in Table 2 of the Data Notebook.

Spectral Analysis
Open the Welcome Center and in the Experiments tab browse the EEG Spectral
Analysis Tutorial. It will be in the Settings folder for this experiment. Open this
file.
Examine the Chart View. Use the View Buttons to view each block. You should
see five blocks of data. The first record is a slowly oscillating sine wave.
Open Spectrum view by clicking on the Spectrum View button in the Toolbar
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Click the Smart Tile button in the LabChart Toolbar to display both windows in full
screen mode.
In Chart View Select the first record by double clicking in the Time axis. This will
perform a spectral analysis for this record and displays the result in the Spectrum view.
Adjust the horizontal scaling of plots to view the results:
Set the horizontal scaling for the Power Spectrum Density (PSD) plot to 50 Hz. Use
the horizontal scroll bar to display the
0 Hz to 50 Hz region of the plot.
Set the horizontal scaling for the
Spectrogram to 50:1.

Contents
Electroencephalography
Required Equipment
Power Lab
Lab Tutor
Lab Chart
Conclusion

Conclusion
When eyes are open, the alpha amplitude of the wave is very much low than the
amplitude in case of closed eyes.
When eyes are open, the beta amplitude of the wave is low than the amplitude in case of
closed eyes but the difference between the two cases are less as compared to alpha wave
amplitude.
When eyes are open, the alpha frequency of the wave is higher than the frequency in case
of closed eyes.
There is very slight difference in the beta frequencies in both the cases.
The amplitude of alpha wave is more without arithmetic than with arithmetic. As with
arithmetic the subject has to do some mental exercise.

Contd
There is very less variation in the frequencies both alpha and beta frequency.
Also there is not much variation in the beta amplitude with and without
arithmetic.
There is a visible change in the amplitudes of wave (alpha and beta both) as the
music is presented to a subject. This is so because the subject is not familiar to
the music, but as the subject becomes familiar and starts enjoying the music then
the difference between the amplitude starts improving.
No doubt there is change in frequency, but change in frequencies is not that large.