EEG (electroencephalography) is a technique used to record the electrical activity produced by neurons firing in the brain, using a net of multiple electrodes placed on the scalp. The electrodes are put in specific places so that activity can be attributed to certain brain regions.
For research purposes EEG is used by Carolyn Wu (and Veema, see previous post) to evaluate what is happening in the brain in response to particular stimuli.
Carolyn is studying music perception and its inherent relationship to action; we move to music and move to produce music. In particular, she is investigating auditory-motor associations during and after musical training. Studying musicians and non-musicians will enable exploration of short- and long-term training effects on the brain.
When she was visiting, Carolyn’s artist partner Rita Godlevskis took this picture of the piano/computer set-up used. Rita was quite interested in the technology involved in the research.
Veema was helping Carolyn put the EEG net on the volunteer in this photo.
