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electroencephalograph lab

Laboratory Introduction

The laboratory is led by Dr. Jun-Ren Li. 

In 2008, with the support of the Ministry of Education's "Aim for the Top University Project" in moving towards a top university, the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling established an Electroencephalography (EEG) Laboratory.
In 2011, National Taiwan Normal University expanded the laboratory group with the support of the "Toward a Top University" project.

Features of brainwave research ⇒ Psychologists infer the internal cognitive processes from through subjects' external behavior. However, behavioral indicators may not be sensitive enough for researchers to reject null hypotheses, or results may be influenced by specific cognitive strategies used by the subjects, so researchers can only observe changes in final behavioral responses, but not transient dynamics. Electroencephalography (EEG), with its high temporal resolution (up to 1,000th of a second), can observe transient brain dynamics, which further increases the possibility to explore research topics where past behavioral indicators were not sensitive enough or where subjects were unable to respond cognitively.

For example, in the study of language development, many researchers have used EEG to explore the processing of language signals in infants and children. They have found that the brainwave signals of speech sound during the first week of infants are correlated with later language abilities.

The basic concept of EEG research ⇒ In cognitive research, researchers usually use the Event-Related Potential (ERP) to conduct research. Event-Related Potential (ERP) refers to the special changes in brain wave potential caused by an event. Event-Related Potential (ERP) is a signal of interest to the researchers. As for research design, it is often necessary to repeat the same type of event dozens of times to obtain a clearer picture of the ERP.

EEG signal source ⇒ EEG is the measurement of electrical potential changes induced by brain activity using electrodes adhered to the scalp. The collected signals are the electric currents and changes in electric fields derived from the synchronized activity of a large group of regularly arranged neurons. Since different brain regions have different activities during different cognitive operations, the timing, intensity, and distribution of the generated potential changes on the scalp will be different. Therefore, by comparing the intensity of brain wave changes and the distribution of these changes on the scalp during different cognitive operations, we can infer the cognitive history of involvement and the degree of involvement.

Research Equipment

The SymAmp2 system in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling is produced by NeuroScan, and can record up to 64 electrodes simultaneously. The software "Scan Edit" can be used for cutting, baseline correction, and noise correction according to the experimental situation; the software "Source" can be used to locate the source of potential changes in the brain.

Research Achievements

Cheng, S. K., Liu, I. C., Lee, J. R., Hung, D. L., & Tzeng, O. (2012). Intentional forgetting might be more effortful than remembering: An ERP study of item-method directed forgetting.  Biological Psychology, 89 (2), 283-292. (SCI).

Chen, Y.C., Lee, J.R., Kuo, W. J., Hung, D., & Cheng, S.K. (2010). An ERP study of Chinese speakers' rhyme judgments to Chinese and English words. Neuroreport, 21(9), 636-640.

Hsieh, L.-T., Hung, D. L., Tzeng, O.J.-L., Lee, J.R., & Cheng, S.-K. (2009).An electrophysiological investigation of the processing of remember/forget cues and item encoding in item-method-directed forgetting.Brain Research, 1250, 190-201.