FAQs for NEMO Study Lab Visit
What is an EEG?
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a brain imaging technique that measures the electrical impulses from your brain using a cap with attached sensors (electrodes). EEG is non-invasive and does not put any electricity in you. It is safe for all ages.
Who needs to come to the visit?
Both the participating parent and child need to attend the entire 3.5-hour visit.
What will my child be doing?
Your child will complete several thinking tasks designed to measure attention, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities. Most tasks will be done on a computer where the child will press a key on a button-box to indicate the correct answer. Other tasks will include handling materials at a desk. We will also record the signals coming from your child’s brain while they complete some tasks on the computer. We do this by placing a stretchy cap over your child’s head that contains many small sensors that can detect the electrical activity in different areas of the brain. Additionally, both you and your child may also complete several questionnaires. These questionnaires contain questions about behavior, emotions, and puberty.
What will I be doing?
You will be completing another online questionnaire for our study. This questionnaire asks more questions about your child and family, and it can take up to 1.5 hours to complete. We need the participating parent to complete this survey, and this parent must be present for the entire visit.
How should I prepare my child’s hair for the EEG testing?
Because hair products, like hair gel, mousse, or other styling products, can make it difficult to record EEG signals, we ask your child to come with clean hair and to not use any hair products on the day of their visit such as hair gels, leave-in conditioners, or temporary hair color or dye.
We also need close access to your child’s scalp to record brain waves, so looser hairstyles, or styles exposing skin, typically work best. For children with medium length or long hair, you can leave their hair completely down, in a loose or low ponytail, or in a loose natural texture hairstyle. If your child normally styles their hair in cornrows or similar types of braids, these hairstyles also typically work well for the EEG. If your child’s hair is styled in a high/tight ponytail, pigtails, or a high bun, we may ask them to take it out so our EEG caps (which fit like swim caps) can comfortably fit them.
Will my child’s hair need to be washed when we get home?
Yes! As a reminder, we use a sticky gel to help us record your child’s brain activity. Your child will get to wipe the gel out of their hair during the visit, but they will probably need to shower and wash their hair again at home to remove all of the gel. Some children also like to bring a hat or a hair tie to pull back their hair after the visit.
What if my child is taking a stimulant medication?
If your child is taking a stimulant medication previously discussed with our staff, and requires an approved 7-day break for study purposes, please follow the directions for the stopping and starting of this medication as instructed in the accompanying email. It is most common for children to stop their prescribed medication 3 days prior to this visit and resume it 4 days after this visit. If you forget to stop the stimulant medication before the visit, we will need to reschedule the visit.
When is the lab visit scheduled?
After the initial screening, if you are considered eligible to participate, you will be asked to complete an online questionnaire. After you complete this questionnaire and are eligible for the lab visit, our staff will contact you to schedule your one-time visit.
Where are you located?
We have two lab locations, on Purdue’s main campus in West Lafayette, and one in Purdue Northwest’s counseling center in Hammond, IN.
West Lafayette: Our lab is located on the first floor of the Psychological Sciences Building on Purdue University’s main campus. Our physical address is 703 Third Street, West Lafayette IN 47907.
Hammond: Our lab is located on the first floor of the Indianapolis Boulevard Counseling Center. Our physical address is 7030 Indianapolis Boulevard, Hammond, IN 46324.
Where can I park at the West Lafayette Campus?
We have three reserved parking spaces right across the street from the main entrance to the Psychological Sciences Building. These spaces are labeled, “Psychology Department Guests” and face Elliot Hall of Music. You can park in any of these spaces and walk across the street (behind you) through the main doors of Psychological Sciences. After you enter the Psychological Sciences building, our lab is located just through the double door on your immediate right. You will find us waiting for you in Room 1229 on the left.
Where can I park at the counseling center in Hammond?
There is a parking lot directly to the side of the building where you may park during your visit to our lab. Enter the door facing the parking lot. There will be a locked second door, but one of our staff members will be waiting to let you in.