Human Electrophysiology Facility

Training

Net Application and Basic Measurement

The HEF has established a set of training procedures for all investigators who wish to use the facility. You need to complete these training sessions and demonstrate your proficiency before you can collect data in the facility. The initial training focuses on the application of the sensor nets and basic care and use of the hardware and software in the facility, and consists of three steps: (a) an introduction and initial training, (b) self-practice, and (c) validation.

Your training starts with a meeting with the lab manager, who will provide a detailed tour of the facility and a demonstration of sensor net application. You will need to recruit someone from your lab or group to "loan their head" for the demo. This person will need to come to this initial meeting with clean, dry hair, and a clean makeup-free face; the lab manager will provide you the details on this aspect of the demo. Much of the application procedure that will be covered during this first meeting can be seen on the "Net application demo" video that we maintain on the lab's ANGEL page. The lab manager will provide you access to that page in advance of your initial meeting. All members of your group who are participating in the training need to watch the video before coming to the first session, and we strongly recommend that you review the video once a month as a refresher on good basic procedure.

After your group attends the initial session, it will be up to you to schedule time to practice on your own using our practice nets (these nets are identical in structure to the "real" nets they just don't have electrodes and lead wires). If you want to practice in 214 (the main lab space), it must be done at a time when there are no experiments in progress. Practice sessions tend to get noisy and can disturb participants. You are welcome to reserve a practice net and take it to room 220 or another lab space to do the training at any time. However, you cannot take the practice nets out of the lab.

When you feel that your group has a good handle on the proper technique for applying a net, you next step is to schedule a meeting with the lab manager. In this meeting, your group will apply the practice net to a volunteer from your group while the lab manager observes. At this point, if your technique is consistent with our standards for net application, you will then schedule time (with the lab manager) to begin practice with the sensor nets.

As part of your training with the sensor nets, the lab manager will also provide training on configuring the amplifiers and acquisition software. You will be shown how to set up a basic acquisition environment, and how to assess and correct sensor impedances. Following this, you will need to schedule time to practice in the lab with the nets, amplifiers, and software. You can schedule this time with the lab manager. Please realize that there may be times during which it is difficult to schedule this practice time, as we do give priority to studies that are already under way. We strongly encourage you to try and schedule practice times for either early or late in the day.

Your goal during this period of training is to be able to have everything ready---software set up, amp checked, net applied, and all impedances below criterion---in 15 minutes or less. When you are confident you can do this consistently, you will schedule a time with the lab manager, during which you will be observed and timed. If you can demonstrate this level of proficiency with the nets, the amps, and the software, the lab manager will certify as competent to begin data collection.

Once you have completed your training, the only step that remains before you can schedule data collection sessions is for you to provide the lab manager with a copy of your approved IRB for the use of the lab. You should next consider scheduling training on the basic elements of data management and analysis. Details of that training are covered in a separate document. Finally, the lab manager will regularly, and without notice, come in to observe your work with the equipment. We reserve the right to halt any project that is not using good practice until a group can demonstrate that they can reliably consistently use proper procedures.

If you have any questions about this training procedure, or any other aspect of the facility, please contact either the lab manager or lab director.

Last modified: 10/26/07 | Contact Webmaster