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A reliable EEG experiment begins with the research question: it determines which electrodes to use, where to place them, how to reference the signals, and what sampling rate and filters will preserve the information you need. There is no universal sensor count, impedance cutoff, or sampling rate. Document your choices, check the live signals before recording, and follow the instructions for your amplifier and electrode system.
Start with the signal and timing you need
Before choosing equipment settings, define the target signal bandwidth, the timing precision your analysis requires, and the analyses you plan to run. Those decisions set the useful scalp coverage, acquisition bandwidth, sampling rate, and event-synchronization requirements.
Sensor systems are not interchangeable just because they have the same number of channels. Compare electrode type and preparation demands, scalp coverage, reference flexibility, amplifier noise and dynamic range, supported bandwidth and sampling, event synchronization, and compatibility with the intended analyses.
Choose and document electrode locations
For human scalp EEG, a recognized placement framework such as the International 10–20 system helps make locations consistent and reproducible. Select channel count and positions to answer the study question: a targeted montage and broad scalp coverage serve different purposes, and adding electrodes does not compensate for poor contact or preparation.
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Record the electrode type, channel count, locations, and montage in the study documentation. In multisite work, use consistent placement and preparation checklists, participant instructions, acquisition settings, impedance criteria, and event triggers so that recordings are comparable across sites.
Prepare electrodes and verify contact
Prepare each electrode according to its design and the manufacturer’s instructions. Conductive gel is appropriate only for gel-based electrodes; do not assume a gel or impedance procedure applies to dry or other sensor types. Check contact across all channels, giving particular attention to reference and ground.
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Impedance recommendations depend on the equipment and context. The 2023 IFCN/ILAE routine clinical EEG standards suggest scalp impedance below 5 kΩ and consider below 10 kΩ acceptable; these are clinical recommendations, not universal research cutoffs. Use the threshold specified for your electrode and amplifier system rather than applying one number to every experiment. See the IFCN/ILAE routine and sleep EEG standards.
Understand reference and ground
EEG channels record voltage differences relative to a reference. Ground has a separate electrical role; it is not another name for the reference. Confirm both assignments in the acquisition software and the device manual.
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Reference strategy affects what can be interpreted or recovered later. The AES/ILAE task-force report notes that differential recording can improve signal-to-noise ratio, while referential recording can preserve flexibility for later re-montaging. That flexibility depends on the recorded reference remaining clean and the amplifier avoiding saturation: noise or saturation at the reference can compromise channels or prevent useful offline re-montaging. Choose a reference that fits the planned analysis, document the rationale, and monitor its quality while recording. See the AES/ILAE task-force report.
Set sampling rate and filters for your bandwidth
The Nyquist rate is twice the highest frequency component you want to represent, but that is a theoretical minimum, not a complete acquisition recipe. Use an appropriate anti-alias filter to remove unwanted frequencies above the usable band before digitization, and allow practical headroom when choosing a rate.
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Recommendations are context-specific. The 2023 IFCN/ILAE routine clinical EEG standard proposes a minimum of 256 Hz for the clinical frequency content it addresses. A 2025 human ERP protocol recommends 512 Hz for that protocol. Neither figure automatically sets the right rate for a different experiment. For another practical context, an AES/ILAE task-force report gives a target of at least four times, ideally eight to ten times, the maximum signal frequency in its animal EEG acquisition discussion; this is not a universal human scalp-EEG standard.
Higher sampling rates increase storage and processing demands. If you downsample, low-pass filter first to reduce aliasing, and report both the original and final rates as well as the filter settings. Preserve raw data where feasible so the recording can be reprocessed. The human ERP protocol also recommends checking reference and ground and retaining raw data.
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Check live data before the task
Do not infer recording quality from processed traces alone. Before the task begins, inspect raw live signals for noise, drift, saturation, and channel-specific problems. Review reference quality alongside the other channels, and resolve contact or setup issues before collecting task data. Practical placement and acquisition checks are also covered in Ten quick tips for clinical EEG acquisition.
Use a repeatable acquisition checklist
- Define the experiment. Write down the question, target bandwidth, timing needs, and planned analyses.
- Specify the montage. Record electrode type, channel count, locations, reference, and ground; use a consistent placement framework when appropriate.
- Prepare and check contact. Follow the electrode-system instructions, check all channels, and pay special attention to reference and ground.
- Inspect the raw traces. Look for noise, drift, saturation, and channel problems before the task starts.
- Set acquisition parameters. Choose sampling and anti-alias filtering for the target bandwidth; save raw data where feasible and low-pass filter before any downsampling.
- Synchronize and document. Verify event markers (and video when relevant), keep participant instructions consistent, and record acquisition and processing settings.
For multisite studies, a shared checklist and consistent triggers help standardize setup across laboratories; see the multisite EEG standardization paper.
What to report so others can reproduce the recording
At minimum, report electrode type and locations, channel count or montage, reference and ground, sampling rate, filters, any downsampling, and event synchronization. Include the contact or impedance criteria and explain the context for them. These details let another lab understand what was recorded and assess whether the data suit a planned analysis.
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