MRI: Acquisition of a 64 Channel Geodesic EEG System

该合同将允许伊利诺伊州卫斯理大学获得通道脑电记录系统，以研究大脑活动与记忆表现、语言习得、社交拒绝等认知因素之间的相关性，以及锻炼对长期大脑功能的潜在好处。由于只能同时从三个脑区记录，IWU目前的EEG采集系统不足以解决行为神经科学领域的复杂问题。对已发表的利用脑电技术的研究的文献回顾表明，大多数研究实验室使用的是通道脑电采集系统。因此，拟议中的收购将代表着IWU在本科生研究质量方面向前迈出的重要一步。IWU目前正在进行的两项研究表明，EEG技术具有丰富的智力潜力。在第一项研究中，初步结果表明，脑电变化与正确/不正确的工作记忆表现之间存在很强的相关性。考虑到与衰老和其他脑损伤相关的记忆力下降，了解大脑处理刺激的机制是至关重要的。在第二项研究中，初步结果表明，在聊天室交谈中，脑电活动与社交拒绝之间存在很强的相关性。早期的结果表明，社交拒绝会导致大脑活动的变化，这可以通过脑电技术检测到，个性差异(例如，内向和外向)可能会影响大脑对这种社交拒绝的反应。尽管这些初步结果令人兴奋，但目前脑电采集系统的局限性不允许对几个关键变量进行更深入的探索，例如多个大脑区域如何共同处理信息。这一奖项还将对更广泛的IWU社区产生重大影响。例如，拟议的脑电系统将加强新兴项目，如最近批准的认知科学辅修课程(一个涉及心理学、数学、计算机科学和哲学系的跨学科项目)。伊利诺伊州立大学表现出对跨学科项目的坚定承诺，为心理学系与计算机科学以及心理学系与护理学之间的合作提供内部研究资金。拟议的脑电采集系统将是朝着加强研究所跨学科合作迈出的重要一步。此外，这一奖项还将有助于伊利诺伊州立大学对多样性的总体承诺，这是该大学最近批准的战略计划的关键组成部分。今年参加脑电采集的17名学生中，15名(88%)为女性，4名(24%)为少数民族学生。考虑到神经科学相对于其他心理学领域在性别和少数群体参与方面的传统差异，这些数字表明了在代表性不足的人群中收集脑电数据的广泛吸引力。总体而言，通过允许研究更复杂的研究问题，该奖项将在智力层面上向前迈进一大步，并通过允许IWU加强几个关键举措，如发展跨学科项目和改善校园多样性，在更广泛的层面上向前迈进。

This award will permit Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) to acquire a 64 Channel electroencephalographic (EEG) recording system to examine correlates between brain activity and cognitive factors such as memory performance, language acquisition, social rejection and the potential benefits of exercise on long-term brain functioning. With the capability of recording from only three brain regions simultaneously, the current EEG acquisition system at IWU is not sufficient to address complex issues in the field of behavioral neuroscience. A literature review of published studies utilizing EEG technology reveals that a majority of research laboratories utilize a 64 channel EEG acquisition system. Thus, the proposed acquisition will represent an important step forward in the quality of undergraduate research at IWU.Two current ongoing studies at IWU illustrate the rich intellectual potential of EEG technology. In the first study, preliminary results indicate a strong correlation between EEG changes and correct/incorrect working memory performance. Given the memory decline associated with aging and other brain injuries, understanding the mechanisms by which the brain processes stimuli is essential. In the second study, preliminary results suggest a strong correlation between EEG activity and social rejection in a chat room conversation. Early results suggest that social rejection leads to changes in brain activity that can be detected using EEG technology and that personality differences (e.g. introversion vs. extroversion) might affect how the brain reacts to this social rejection. Though these preliminary results are exciting, the limitations of the current EEG acquisition system does not permit a deeper exploration of several critical variables, such as how multiple brain regions work together to process information. This award will also significantly impact the broader IWU community. For instance, the proposed EEG system will strengthen emerging programs, such as a recently approved Cognitive Science Minor (an interdisciplinary program involving the Psychology, Mathematics, Computer Science and Philosophy departments). IWU has shown a strong commitment to interdisciplinary programs, providing internal research funding for collaborations between the Psychology Department and Computer Science and the Psychology Department and Nursing. The proposed EEG acquisition system will represent an important step towards strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations at IWU. In addition, this award will also assist IWU's overall commitment to diversity, a key component of the university's recently-approved strategic plan. Of the 17 students participating in EEG collection this year, 15 students (88%) were female and 4 were minority students (24%). Given the traditional disparities in gender and minority participation in neuroscience relative to other fields of psychology, these numbers show the broad appeal of EEG data collection with underrepresented populations. Overall, this award will represent a significant step forward on both an intellectual level by allowing more complex research issues to be examined and on a broader level by allowing IWU to strengthen several key initiatives, such as developing interdisciplinary programs and improving campus diversity.