Reaction Time 1

Experimental Objectives:

1. Observe the effect of learning and the effect of anticipating the stimulus delivery on reaction time.
2. Compare reaction times in four stimulus-response situations:
1. Fixed interval stimulus presentation using the dominant hand for the response.
2. Random interval stimulus presentation using the dominant hand for the response.
3. Fixed interval stimulus presentation using the nondominant hand for the response.
4. Random interval stimulus presentation using the nondominant hand for the response.
3. Compare the reaction times for groups of subjects by calculating the statistics of group mean, variance, and standard deviation in each of the four stimulus-response situations. 
   
   
   

   

   Subject presses hand with button after hearing a
   clicking sound.

   
   

   

   BioPac software records data of subject in a reaction& time graph

   
   

   

   Recorded data being analyzed by students with
   assistance from BioPac software.

December 2, 2015
Electrooculogram (EOG) I
The experimental objective was to record and compare horizontal eye movements during real and simulated tracking of a pendulum. And to record and compare vertical eye movements during real and simulated tracking of a pun in the vertical plane. Finally, the subject's eye movements were recorded during reading three different ways: easy reading silently, challenging reading silently, and challenging reading aloud.

Electrocardiogram and Pulse Experiment

Experiment Objectives 

• To become familiar with the principle of plethysmography and its usefulness in qualitatively assessing peripheral changes in blood volume.

• To observe and record changes in peripheral blood volume and pressure pulse under a variety of both experimental and physiological conditions.

• To determine the approximate speed of the pressure pulse wave traveling between the heart and the finger.

• To illustrate the electrical activity associated with normal cardiac activity and how it relates to the flow of blood throughout the body. 

  

  Subject attached to Pulse Transducer (SS4L) 

  
  

  

  One Cardiac Cycle from subject's EKG/Pulse

  
  

  

  Participant records information onto the  BioPac Software 

Electrocardiography (ECG) 1

Lab Abstract and Objectives:

Research Director monitors participants as they record ECG

• To become familiar with the electrocardiography as a primary tool for evaluating electrical events within the heart.
• To correlate electrical events as displayed on the ECG with the mechanical events that occur during the cardiac cycle.



BioPac software being used to record heart activity on real time.

• To observe rate and rhythm changes in the ECG associated with body position and breathing.

  

  Subject lies still as participants record heart activity.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Lab Abstract and Objectives:

• EEG experiments were performed on live subjects.
• Subjects were seated, relaxed with eyes closed, performing mental arithmetic, hyperventilation, and relaxed with eyes opened.
• Brain waves were analyzed.

Participants proceed with EGG on live subject.

Electroencephalography (EGG) 1

Lab Abstract and Objectives:

• To record an EEG from an awake, resting subject with eyes open and eyes closed.
• To identify and examine alpha, beta, delta, and theta components of the EGG complex.
• Brain waves were analyzed while EEG was being recorded.

Participants perform an EGG on live subject and record data on BioPac software. 

Testing Equipment On Live Subjects

Lab Abstract and Objectives: To observe and record skeletal muscle as reflected by a basal level of electrical activity associated with the muscle in a resting state. To observe and correlate motor unit recruitment with increased power of skeletal muscle contraction. After data had been recorded the group listened to the EMG "sounds" and correlated sound intensity with motor unit recruitment.

Subject with attached electrodes to the BioPac MP36 machine.

BioPac Sytems Inc. Software recording live data.

10/7/15

Students and faculty continue working on tutorials of the BIOPAC system, to better understand the program usages. We reviewed some of the labs that we hope to begin working on next week. We labeled the three designated STEM Alienware computers as EEG Primary, EEG Secondary, and EEG Third, to ensure that we are consistently using the same computers.

EEG Brain Study Project Gets Underway

Meeting Three 10/1/15

• Software was uploaded onto two additional personal computers today. Students continue to review tutorials before using the equipment. We are working on the BSL :Biopac Student Lab 4.1 , the first lab.

Second Meeting 9/30/15

• More interested interested students showed up to participate in our EEG Brain Studies. Software was uploaded onto three Alienware computers now contain the software and two additional personal computers were uploaded as well. Students began reviewing the tutorials for the program.

First Meeting - 09/23/15

• Our first meeting was held in which a presentation to students on the basic operations of the EEG technology was that will like given.  Discussion   of the safety requirements and potential studies ideas were discussed.

STEM Student Union Psychophysiology and Neurophysiology Experimentation and Research

The Stem Student Union has obtained professionally developed instrumentation with a pedagogic learning system (from BioPac) so that students can methodically and formally learn about psychophysiology and neurophysiology.  Students perform laboratory exercises to conduct basic physiology experiments using ECG, EEG, EMG, and EOG for the purpose of studying Muscular, Cardiovascular, Neurophysiology and Biomedical Engineering topics.

In addition, the Stem Student Union has obtained equipment (from OpenBCI) that is designed to encourage original  experimentation and product engineering in the development of software and hardware in the field of brain computer interfaces.

In order to be qualified to use the equipment of this project, students must pass a rigorous safety training program.

This project will pool the interests of students from a wide range of disciplines.  Not only will it attract students who may be studying Biology or Psychology while at Bergen who are ultimately interested in medical careers,  but via projects that involve brain-computer interfaces, these projects can also attract the interest of Computer Science majors and Engineering majors.