MRI: Acquisition of a 64 Channel Geodesic EEG System

该合同将允许伊利诺伊卫斯理大学（IWU）获得64通道脑电图（EEG）记录系统，以检查大脑活动与认知因素之间的相关性，如记忆表现、语言习得、社会排斥以及锻炼对长期大脑功能的潜在益处。IWU目前的脑电图采集系统只能同时记录三个脑区，不足以解决行为神经科学领域的复杂问题。利用脑电图技术发表的研究文献综述表明，大多数研究实验室使用64通道脑电图采集系统。因此，拟议的收购将代表着IWU本科研究质量的重要一步。IWU目前正在进行的两项研究说明了脑电图技术丰富的智力潜力。在第一项研究中，初步结果表明脑电图变化与正确/错误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衰退，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，脑电图活动与聊天室交谈中的社交排斥之间存在很强的相关性。早期的研究结果表明，社会排斥会导致大脑活动的变化，这种变化可以通过脑电图技术检测到，而性格差异（如内向与外向）可能会影响大脑对这种社会排斥的反应。虽然这些初步结果令人兴奋，但当前脑电图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协同工作来处理信息。该奖项也将显著影响更广泛的IWU社区。例如，拟议的脑电图系统将加强新兴课程，例如最近批准的认知科学辅修课程（涉及心理学、数学、计算机科学和哲学系的跨学科课程）。IWU一直致力于跨学科项目，为心理学系和计算机科学以及心理学系和护理学之间的合作提供内部研究资金。拟议的脑电图采集系统将是加强IWU跨学科合作的重要一步。此外，该奖项还将有助于IWU对多样性的整体承诺，这是该大学最近批准的战略计划的关键组成部分。今年参与EEG采集的17名学生中，女生15名（88%），少数民族学生4名（24%）。考虑到与其他心理学领域相比，神经科学在性别和少数群体参与方面的传统差异，这些数字表明，在代表性不足的人群中，EEG数据收集具有广泛的吸引力。总的来说，这个奖项将代表着一个重要的进步，在智力水平上，允许更复杂的研究问题进行审查，并在更广泛的层面上，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。

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.