BrainAccess Board
The BrainAccess Board is a Windows (and Linux) application that can be used to interface with BrainAccess devices and undertake most of the tasks related to EEG measurements. Explore the BrainAcces Board features below and download it to start using it.
Multiple Device Connectivity
BrainAccess Board allows connecting and streaming data from multiple BrainAccess devices through the same Bluetooth adapter. The number of devices that can be supported through a single Bluetooth adapter depends on the number of recording channels but it can always be extended by connecting more devices on another computer and re-streaming the data through the network using the same BrainAcces Board. All the collected data is synchronized without the need for any external synchronization through physical connections.
Hyperscanning Capabilities
As mentioned above, the BrainAccess board enables synchronized EEG recordings from multiple BrainAccess devices. This in turn allows for setting up Hyperscanning experiments and applications. Hyperscanning is a relatively new paradigm where simultaneous EEG recordings of multiple people are performed allowing the study of social interaction and others. Read more about Hyperscanning in this tutorial.
Hyperscanning is a simultaneous measurement of multiple people during social interaction and other activities. Multiple BrainAccess devices can be used in hyperscanning experiments.
Lab Streaming Layer Integration
BrainAccess Board supports and uses Lab Streaming Layer (LSL)* for data streaming which gives enormous flexibility when setting up experiments. LSL is generally used to stream/receive EEG or other data over the network and make sure that the data is synchronized between streams in time-sensitive set-ups. This allows, for example, some computers to collect EEG data from BrainAccess devices, other computers to run stimuli presentation software, and yet another computer to collect and record all the streams and stimuli onsets.
An example of the versatility of using Lab Streaming Layer (LSL). Two computers (left and right) running BrainAccees Board are used to connect and stream data from BrainAccess devices to LSL. The computer at the top, also connected to the same network, is running software for visual stimuli presentation and streams times of presentation onsets to LSL as well. The computer at the bottom, again running BrainAccess Board, collects all the streams and saves them to a file.
Therefore, BrainAccess Board integrates well with other software that supports LSL. The Board can be used to catch the streams coming from other software and save them together with EEG data. Likewise, EEG data streamed by BrainAccess Board to LSL can be caught by other software for data viewing or processing.
*The Lab Streaming Layer is a middleware ecosystem used to stream, receive, and synchronize neural, physiological, and other data from various sensors. Read more on the official website: https://labstreaminglayer.org/#/
Multiple Format Support
BrainAccess uses its internal format when recording and saving data. Nonetheless, it comes with a file converter that can convert recorded data to the most popular EEG data formats such as .fif, .edf, .set, and others.
Highly-functional Viewer
BrainAcces Board comes with an EEG viewer – a convenient tool for live signal viewing. It features various filters, normalization, and other customizable settings.
Applications
BrainAccess Board also features a variety of EEG, BCI, and other apps. Most of the apps are free to use and include useful tools such as the aforementioned EEG viewer and EEG data converter and others such as brainwave power monitor and event-related potential visualizer. It has example apps for most BCI paradigms as well such as SSVEP and P300.
Installation
Download the BrainAccess Board from a Download Centre. Extract the downloaded archive and follow the installation steps to install the Board.
Requirements
Windows 10 or newer and Ubuntu 18.04 or newer are supported. The application takes up approx. 500 MB on a hard drive.