Electromagnetic Field Interference and Electroencephalography Recordings

EMF (electromagnetic field) noise interference for EEG (electroencephalography) recordings can vary from location to location. The level of acceptable interference will depend on the facilitys policy towards noise in recording sessions, the type of research being done and frequencies monitored in individual EEG sessions. There are means within Electrical Geodesics, Inc.s Netstation software to compensate for interference after EEG sessions are recorded, such as notch filtering or noise-reduction attributes of ERP (Event Related Potential) averaging to remove desynchronized noise without notch filtering. However, the cleaner the environment for recording, the less likely a facility will need to rely on post-recording filtering to remove unwanted noise. The amount of actual EMF interference that can occur while the recording is taking place depends on various factors, including: Equipment placement within the room Location of other sources of noise within the room or immediate area Variable operating loads on nearby sources of noise The level of existing shielding of the room from sources of noise and interference

In situations where potential new sources of close-range noise and interference will be installed at a facility, a lab can try to measure how this new source may or may not interfere with future EEG recordings. To do this: Calculate a predicted 50 Hz field strength after attenuation for the potential new source of interference Set up an EEG recording in the presence of the source generating the field Review the data to see if it meets facility standards for the recordings Increase the strength of the emissions by 50% and re-record to verify acceptable EEG data

There are relatively inexpensive, handheld devices that can be calibrated to measure the EMF within an environment. Once this has been done, they can then be used to measure the changes in the environment from the contamination of new devices. Links to information on such devices may be found at the end of this document. After measuring the changes, if data continues to fall within an acceptable range for the facility, then there should not be any significant issues with EEG readings once the new source is brought on line. If there are issues noted and recorded data is unacceptable, then a lab will want to consider using the Netstation softwares ability to filter out the unwanted noise and review the results again for acceptability. Furthermore, they will want to consider relocation of the noise generating device(s) if possible, and addition of shielding to the room if none is present.

While successful sessions can and have been recorded in a variety of environments, some locations use Faraday cages to eliminate unwanted EM frequencies and insure successful recordings. However, cage construction, requirements, specifications and use vary from location to location. It is important to note that if you chose to install a Faraday cage at your facility to filter out potential interference, you can inadvertently reduce the cages effectiveness post-install. This could be due to creating holes or openings in the cage to accommodate wiring, or by including monitors, computers and other electrical equipment within the cage that generate noise in the 50 Hz range. This would negate the benefits of blocking out the unwanted external interference the Faraday cage would provide. Links: EMF detection devices: http://www.electrosmog.com http://www.emf-meter.com/Multidetektor2PROFI.htm Electromagnetic Fields: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_field Faraday cage: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage