Hi all, Adel speaking

The 27^thof October, the EEG Team had the chance to present its project at the 51th MACUB Conference in Queensborough Community College along with around 140 projects from New York, New Jersey and Maryland States.  

I was very excited as it was my first time presenting at a conference out of Bergen, and super excited to show our work to a different else.

After an inspiring talk on the arts and neurons of the PhD artist Gregory Dunn, the time to present our poster to the judges followed right away. Students, teachers and amateurs from other colleges and universities were listening to what the EEG Team had been doing until that moment. Neurofeedback was changing someone’s life. Sound at a very slow frequency, was rearranging the brain neural network for a calm and relaxed state.

However, what the interlocutors could not see in the poster was the focused work of a team who experienced different challenges. One of which has been preparing the paper works to have access to the equipment, which had slowed the research’s progress tremendously.

Regardless that, we still made it to present to the Stem C^2 at Bergen in April, the STEM Summit in August still in the house and eventually at the MACUB Conference where we got assigned first place for poster presentation in the Community College category.

I felt humbled when I was handed the Certificate of Achievement at the award ceremony.

In actuality, that certificate is crowing the dedicated work of Dr. Dilauro, the effort of the team for progress and the committed participation of the veterans to the study.

Big thank you to the veterans for giving their time to the STEM Union, sharing their stories and inspiring us to give our best. Huge appreciation hug to all the members who decided to lose themselves in the study of the brain scans and later analyze the indecipherable data for the sake of the learning process: I was honored to represent you all to that conference. Most importantly, a great aknowledgement goes to the work of our mentor Dr. Dilauro for putting our project first, her patience in every explanation and her will to help out of the ordinary.

The MACUB Conference symbolizes the beginning of journey. 

P.S. A message to future members: believe in the transformative impact of the project.

STEM summer internship 2018 (6/23 ~ 6/26)

July 26, 2018

This week, we began utilizing the Discovery 24 to scan EEGs from new subjects and continued employing the Atlantis II to conduct ISF on returning subjects.  A large portion of our subjects consist of war veterans, since ISF has shown to mitigate the symptoms of PTSD.b

EEG Brain Study team serving our veterans!

On Thursday, we presented the basis of our project and our current findings to other BCC students and professors. We could present our vision, mission, values, and goals to other students and mentors. 

Presenting our project to our peers

         

 Summer 2 informations

STEM Summer Internship of 2018 (7/2-7/5)

STEM Summer Internship of 2018 (7/2-7/5)


As summer 2 started we set our goals for the semester: perform extensive ISF trainings.
The semester started with good news: we received the passkey for the Atlantis 2 and had access to the program on our server.

In this post we are going to share the procedure to perform an ISF training

After our volunteering participants compiled a consent form for the training and a consent form for publishing their pictures on our website, we conducted a little survey.
Based on the survey, we were able to determine the site to place the electrodes: for our participants were T3 and T4 (respectively, temporal lobe on the left and temporal lobe on the right side)

Adelajda and the electrodes placed on her head.

To glue the electrodes, we applied two kind of gels: the "NuPrep" cream to apply to the skin to clean it and the  "Ten 20 Conductive" to use for the electrodes to facilitate the connection with the skin.

Hynbin decided to be our participant the first week of her internship.

As we can see from the pictures, the electrodes have different color and we had to place them in the right positions. 

The Ch1 is connected to the left lobe: 

- A1 is connected to the red electrode that should be placed on T3, temporal lobe, left side (an inch above the left ear)

-R1 is connected to the yellow electrode that should be placed on the Mastoid, the left side

Ch2 is associated to the right side of the lobe:

-A2 is connected to the black electrode to be placed on T4, temporal lobe, right side (an inch above the right side of the ear)

-R2 is connected to the white electrode to be placed on the Mastoid, the right side

G indeed is connected to the green electrode to be placed on the forehead.

During the first ISF training, we had to find the optimal brain frequency, the one at which the parasympathetic nervous system (also known as the rest and digest activation) is stimulated. The starting frequency is very low(0.0030 Hz) and is gradually increased until the participant feels relaxed.

The picture shows the During-Session Notes allowing us to keep track of the frequency, and the feelings of our participants on a regular interval of 5 minutes.

The duration of the session extends to 30 minutes

STEM Summer Internship of 2018 (6/25-6/28)

This is the end of  our the Summer I 3SP internship. While, we accomplished what we set out to do; there's still a lot that needs to be done. Once we get our contract with brainmaster inc renewed we'll be back in business. Summer II starts Monday July 2nd and we're ready for it. PS: No Photos for this week!!!!

STEM Summer Internship of 2018 (6/18-6/21)

For week 5 we rapped up doing our presentation for the Summer 1 3SP internship, which was done in week 4. For the upcoming weeks we're looking to get our contract with Brainmaster renewed because we also received our 3rd renewal with the IRB board for 2018-2019 with a summary report. Some of our members are taking a 3SP minicourse on Technical Writing for Scientific Publication. Next week is the final week of the course, so we're looking forward to see fruits of their studies and how it modified the current state our research paper.

In this photo we our current and former Chief Research Associates Adelajda Turku and Alexander Thomas speaking about the Vision, Mission, and Values of the EEG Brainwave Team. With these things we will make a brochure and use them to give a belief summary of the research group for future participants. 

During the presentation I spoke on our agreement Brainmaster Inc (Not the most flatting photo. lol), how we able to acquire their Discovery DC amplifier and Infraslow Flutuation Trainings (ISF). What is the purpose of it in combination with the red qEEG cap? In addition, how the software worked and what are perimeters we as administrators follow? Including experimental procedures with the GAD-7 self-reporting forms and procedural steps we take to extract the data from the ISF sessions to get quantitative results.  

STEM Summer Internship of 2018 (6/11-6/14)

Presentation
The EEG project's Summer I internship presentation will take place on 6/14/2018. It will touch upon all of the pertinent developments mentioned in the past few blog posts. A major theme is still the establishment of a research infrastructure.

To comply with the rules of the summer internship we had create board with our general meeting times, faculty times, and location of where we are meeting. We met all expectations and had the lovely and talented Dorida Denas design our boards finishing touches. 

Paper Editing
With the Summer I internship comes the Technical Writing for Scientific Publications mini course, we decided to apply our newfound knowledge to a new version of last year's report. Grammatical changes and images are added to the paper and it will serve as a springboard into eventually getting our experiment published.

Here's the cover page and experimental results from the SARA algorithm we obtained.

Streamlining Training for new experimenters
We took a few major steps to allow new members of the project to grasp the procedure needed to collect data:

The local network required for the completion of forms no longer requires a knowledge of the command prompt to setup. Sadik made us a script that allows a novice to access the functionality of the raspberry pi. Thanks, Sadik.

We created setup tutorials for the physical attachment of electrodes and data collection for both ISF and QEEGs. (OpenBCI and BIOPac to follow)

STEM Summer Internship of 2018 (6/4-6/7)

In the third week of our internship, we began to explore the roots of the Bergen EEG project a bit by dusting off some of our old equipment. The picture  (left) shows some hardware that's affixed to a 3D Printed EEG cap. This cap was once used to measure changes in brainwaves after listening to piano with interlaced musical tones.



The software it uses is called OpenBCI. As it is open source software, we might be able to use it to achieve some temporary success with regards to working out new experimental paradigms. Both reinstating old hardware and expanding our possibilities will prop up the net data we collect.





We began to explore articles on a topic called thought translation. These are algorithms used to allow the disabled to spell out words or operate wheel chairs. There is evidence to suggest that a user can offer a purely cognitive input, that is: no verbal or somatic components would be needed to produce a binary input. The ultimate goal of this line of questioning would be to develop our own "cognitive alphabet" that might allow a user to issue complex commands with non-verbal, non-somatic means.





On a scale of one to ten, we have ten to accomplish. The previous screen shot is of our electronic forms, which we hope to bring into greater use in the coming data collection. Last semester, defaulting to physical paperwork occurred when the operation of our raspberry pi posed issues for our less initiated members. Our friends of the comp-sci influence helped streamline the process of operating the machine. This way, we can avoid redundant paperwork and having to print out new documents if we need to make any changes.




(by friends of the comp-sci influence, I mean mostly Sadik, as usual)




The never-ending paperwork story also continues as our ability to collect data in our existing paradigm is blocked entirely by the bureaucracy necessary to achieve a new code for our Discovery. We will continue to provide updates as they are available, but hopefully by next Thursday we have new data to collect through OpenBCI.

Speaking of old hardware, we also brought the BIOPAC out and tinkered with some labs around polygraphs, pulse, and respiration. The BIOPAC contains a wide swath of measurement apparatuses that might allow us to augment further data collection with new physiological variables.













(Pictured to the right is our electronic consent form)
To continue our data collection, we simply need the codes, and to get the codes, the BrainAvatar people need our payment. Once the OpenBCI and BIOPAC are both fully up and running, a little creativity and some pertinent research will allow us to produce some meaningful data in the short to mid term.

Welcome Address

As we are welcoming new members to our EEG brainwave group this summer 2018, we made a compilation of information which is accessible to all incoming and will provide a great wealth of knowledge.

Our goals for the summer internship are as follows:

1. Secure all materials and methods necessary to continue collection of quantitative electroencephalographs and administration of Infraslow Fluctuation Training.
2. Find at least five more individuals that can commit to an extended course of ISF.
3. Devise a new experimental paradigm with less temporal restrictions than our current protocol that can run simultaneously.

Summer 2018 Hours!!!

Dr. DiLauro meeting hours are from 10am-2pm 

 Our current research poster which we present during our Bergen's STEM C^2 Research Summit. 

Vision, Mission, and Values of EEG Brainwaves

Current Poster for New Participants located all over the campus. We will using social media and other resources to gain more potential data and hopefully soon edit our paper into a manuscript for publication. 

STEM Summer Internship of 2018 (5/29-5/31)

Week Two of Summer Internship Blog Post 

SARA

• The Standardized Artifact Rejection Algorithm (SARA)  de-artifacted EEG is processed and compared with the relevant age bin of the qEEG-Pro database. Three pdf reports are created for the Linked Ears montage, the Laplacian (CSD) montage and the source-reconstructed signal using sLORETA. The qEEG-Pro reports consist of the following analyses:
  

  • FFT Absolute Power
  • FFT Relative Power
  • Phase Coherence
  • Alpha peak detection
  • Amplitude Asymmetry
  • Phase Lag
  • Comodulation (Cross-frequency power correlations)
  • Burst Metrics (Max burst power, FWHM, Interburst Interval, Bursts per second)
  • Extreme Z-score development (Age simulation analyses) *
  • Power Fluctuation Analyses *
  • Percentage Deviant Activity * 

  * Developed exclusively for guiding Neurofeedback protocol design.

Recruitment 

• Flyers, we prepared the flyer for recruiting participants. Participants are needed but it is quite difficult for participants to commit especially in the summer.  
• Announcement were done also by talking with students, staff and community members 
• For the recruiting purpose, we updated the blog by posting some pictures of the equipment and the work of the spring. 
  
  

STEM Summer Internship of 2018 (5/21-5/24)

Week One of Summer Internship Blog Post 

IRB 

• The first order of business for the Summer Internship was securing the renewal of our IRB approval. The approval, obtained last Summer, expires on June 1st, and we managed to submit all the necessary forms this week.  
• We are still waiting on the powers that be to sign off on our project for the Summer, and the main power-that-is will be back in the office on Tuesday. (It was much easier this time because we just needed to update things here and there). 

Recruitment 

• Flyers, we prepared the flyer for recruiting participants. Participants are needed but it is quite difficult for participants to commit especially in the summer.  
• Announcement were done also by talking with students, staff and community members 
• For the recruiting purpose, we updated the blog by posting some pictures of the equipment and the work of the spring. 

Continue ISF 

• With all of the mechanisms in place to conduct research on a neurofeedback paradigm named “Infraslow Fluctuation Training,” we figured that continuing to collect data in this realm would be of importance.  
• We still need several more participants to have an iron clad case for statistical significance. We appreciate all referrals and devotion of time to help actualize this research.   

New intern 

• Introduced to the project and directed in the completion of the NIH certification, which is about protecting the Human Research Participants 

Money Situation 

• A mainstay of this project have been barriers presented by financing our equipment. Unfortunately, we cannot take any more QEEG’s until we cut a check to our friends across the pond.  

Private server Forms make sure working 

• In the Spring, the electronic forms were ready, but not all that feasible to implement. If the Raspberry pi we were using was powered off, we needed some level 1 tech support to get it up and running again.  
• A goal for the coming weeks is to organize a station with some integrity.  

Future directions 

• Portable Caps?

Overview of Spring 2018: STEM C^2 Research Summit (April 13th)

This past STEM C^2 Research Summit on April 13th was the 5th annual held at Bergen Community College.We explored our scientific discovery and study many phenomenas that intrigued the mind and captured the our spirits. These researchers hard-work culminated in this conference, that calls for excellent poster presentations, demonstrations, and judgement.

This is our 3rd EEG study "Efficacy of Infraslow Fluctuation Training (ISF) in the attenuation of Anxiety, utilizing Brainmaster Discovery Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG) and Self-Report." Along with our private sever that complies with HIPPA laws and double for digital forms that can be done on the computer and their cell phones.

Our partnership with Brainmaster and the Neurofeedback Center of NJ allows us to incorporate their technology and our research background.

Former Chief Research Associate Alexander Thomas, Current Chief Research Associate/3SP Candidate Adelajda Turku and 3SP Scholar Alexander Czechowicz.

Adele and I working the camera for the EEG Blog. Red and Burgundy are in for conference season. 

Discussing our plan of attack for the judges!!!!

Overview of Spring 2018

 Currently, with it being May and being quite lax with posting we are now updating the past progress of our EEG members this past spring semester. Additional skills were being taught and refined with every opportunity to learn from participants.

Our Research Director Dr. Dilauro is giving a demonstration on doing Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG) on STEM student Tyler.

 Now, we have EEG members Anthony and Kristen replicating Dr.Lauro's technique on the electrogel application.

We also have Oliver and Sydney also getting their chance on the electrogel application.

 

 In this photo here we have a sample of the QEEG recording through Brainmater's Brainavatar software, we see the corresponding brainwaves and 19-channel electrodes placements/ brainmap. The green numbers refers to the connectivity between the electrodes and scalp of the participant. The red numbers would suggest needing apply more electrogel to get a better signal connection. While, the red streaks would suggest the artifacts are interrupting the recording of the QEEG might include blinking, coughing, moving, and talking.

Equipment for the QEEGs performed on participants

Equipment for the QEEGs performed on participants. The Discovery shows the 

     
                                                                  The Checktrode

                                                 
                                                    Electrodes connected on the Discovery

                         Electrogel to facilitate the connection between the electrodes and the skull

Winternship: Week Two

Going into Week Two our EEG team is focused on securing the funds to get the passkey for the Discovery, completing the scheduling forms, and having all new members start and complete the NIH certification. Now that I'm stepping down as Chief Research Associate of our EEG team I selected a new member to take over the team. In searching for a top notch student with the passion, creative, and strong leadership attributes I came to find Adelajda Turku last semester.

Adel getting conformable into her new role and donning the QEEG cap.

Currently, going into her second semester this newbie along with all our new members our the future of STEMatics and I'm very pleased to be passing the torch down to them. Everyone is already saying she's an excellent choice and when I started EEG this opportunity fell into my lap only after my first semester at Bergen. Now, it's going to be our reason to look for leaders in the start of their academic career to grow and transform our EEG research to bring fresh new ideas, and future medical applications. 

 Alex being photo ready as usual!!!

 My group, My compadres, and My friends

New Chief Research Associate Adelajda Turku and awesome right hand Alexander Czechowicz.

As far as the scheduling bits are concerned, we have the availabilities of six researchers. Unfortunately, I forgot to get the names of five of them, so at one of our general meetings in the semester, we will have to get people to identify their own schedules. We will have people ready to run ISF each day of the week save Thursday. (I suppose Thursday is a busy day for most students. Based on parking, I'd think it would be Tuesday.) We can actually start getting subjects to sign up for times as it stands!

 Adel and Alex working hard with updating our General Meeting and Spring Semester Flyer.

 This new flyer is such a departure from the old one Nikita and I designed in the summer.

In order to conduct human subjects research, each one of our administrators must complete an NIH certification. Though the two Alexes completed this research, a new leader of our team, Adel, completed this task during the Winternship. The NIH certification provides experimenters with information about ethics and duties during human subjects research.

In our previous blog post, we mentioned that our project was donated another Discovery from a third party. This would effectively double our capacity to collect data. Well, our luck continues, as Jacqueline De Vries, our long time collaborator and source of experiential wisdom, offered to have us conduct our research at her "Crossroads" clinic. Her clinic is very homey and comfortable and even has toys with which someone's kids might play.

I said in the first blog post the following:

I want to be able to look back and say the following about the Winternship:

• We now know how to do qEEGs
• We have a structure for scheduling appointments in place

The second goal is very much accomplished, but the first goal still needs work. Hopefully, we can schedule a meeting with Jackie early in the semester with all of our researchers to sponge up all of Jackie's information.