Building Interdisciplinary Expertise in the BRAIN EEG Lab
By: Dr. Naomi Hashimoto, Dr. Renee Lajiness-O’Neill, Dr. Jin Bo, Dr. Jamie Lawler & Dr. Angela Staples
Our ability to link behaviors to brain activity is possible through a wide array of techniques. One way to accomplish this is through electroencephalography (EEG), which allows us to image electrical brain activity in real-time while a person carries out a variety of behaviors. Since EEG offers temporal precision, we would be able to examine how behaviors unfold in real-time in the brain; our group of researchers have been interested in using EEG to explore diverse areas such as attention, language, memory, motor learning, and self-regulation. A space had already been built to house the EEG system. Unfortunately, there were no funds to purchase the EEG system and related equipment. So we applied for, and received, the National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation (NSF MRI) award, which made it possible to purchase the EEG system. The grant was funded for shared use across three departments/programs: Neuroscience Program, Psychology Department, Communication Sciences and Disorders Program, and two colleges (College of Arts and Sciences and College of Education).
Since EEG requires powerful, high-capacity computers to analyze the data, we could not use faculty-supported computers. Again, we turned to a funding source, this time the e-Fellows grant, to purchase high-capacity computers which had the speed and storage space needed to carry out EEG research. Together with the EEG system, these high-capacity computers have provided the foundation for EMU’s Behavioral Research And Imaging Neurodevelopmental (BRAIN) EEG Lab, the first of its kind on campus. The BRAIN EEG lab has allowed us to provide neuroscience instruction and research using non-invasive imaging of electrical brain activity of the brain across the lifespan. These computers are now equipped with the software programs needed to handle EEG data which has allowed us to hold weekly meetings with our students who learn how to pre-process, analyze, and interpret EEG data. Having multiple computers means that the students have been able to receive hands-on training, which is essential when learning how to acquire and analyze EEG data. Students have also been able to hold meetings, independent of the training sessions, to analyze their own EEG data for various presentations, projects, and dissertations.
The e-Fellows grant was essential for the continued growth of the BRAIN lab. With the availability of multiple computers, faculty have been able to pursue their research agendas, support student-driven research, conduct seminar courses to undergraduate students, and mentor and train students to use EEG. Currently, we have 10 undergraduate, 4 masters, and 6 doctoral students who are directly being mentored by faculty in the Department of Psychology and the Neuroscience and Communication Sciences & Disorders Programs.
We would encourage anyone to apply for an E-fellows grants. The application process was straight-forward and the outcome (i.e., the purchase of multiple computers) will benefit our lab for many years. Educational technology is not cheap, and we would highly recommend the eFellows program as a place to help fund the technology that will make a difference in our students’ learning.
About the Authors
Dr. Hashimoto is associate professor in the Communication Sciences & Disorders program. Her background as a clinical aphasiologist has informed her primary research interests in the assessment and treatment in aphasia, and examining the nature of linguistic-cognitive processes in the healthy aging and aphasia populations.
Dr. Lajiness-O’Neill is a professor of Psychology and Neuroscience. She is trained as a clinical neuropsychologist. Her research agenda is focused on the development and validation of bio-behavioral methods to screen and assess neurodevelopmental disorders and developmental psychopathologies.
Dr. Bo is a professor of Psychology and Neuroscience. She was trained as a pediatrician in China. Her research focuses on the behavioral and neural mechanisms of age-related differences in individuals with cognitive and motor difficulties.
Dr. Lawler is a clinical and developmental psychologist with expertise in early adversity, parenting, and neurobehavioral development. Her research program is grounded in developmental psychopathology and focuses on the impact of early life stress on early childhood mental health and development.
Dr. Staples is an associate professor of Psychology with expertise in statistical methods for analyzing longitudinal data, sleep in early childhood, parenting of young children, temperament, and the development of self-regulation.