Before you arrive to your MEG session, please ensure that you have gone over all of the questions below. On the day of the experiment, please refrain from using hair product or conditioner. The MEG equipment is warm during operation, so it is recommended to wear light clothing on the day of your session. Arrive at the MEG Lab at least 5 minutes before your scheduled time. A researcher will greet you at the lab and brief you on the experiment in which you are about to participate.
Before the experiment, be sure to remove any jewelry or metallic accessories. The researcher will pace a nylon swim cap on your head and then escort you into the MEG running room. The researcher will then perform a 3D scan before placing the MEG sensor cap on your head.
Once the equipment has been checked, the researcher will secure the door to the running room and proceed with the experiment. During the experiment, the researcher will be able to see, hear, and communicate with you via an intercom system. When the experiment is complete, the researcher will retrieve you from the MEG running room. They will then remove the MEG cap and nylon swim cap and debrief you.
Before your experiment, please go over all of the following questions:
Do you regularly wear a hairpiece, wig, or toupee?
If so, you will have to remove the item to ensure proper placement of the MEG cap. Therefore, it is recommended that you arrive without the item on the day of the experiment.
Do you use hair products?
Since the MEG sensors equipment will placed on your head to detect neural activation, we want to ensure that the equipment remains clean and operational. Therefore, we ask that you arrive at your MEG session with dry, unconditioned hair.
Do you braid your hair?
Braided hair can make it difficult to properly place the MEG cap. We ask that you arrive at your MEG session with unbraided hair. If you are unable to remove your braids or would prefer not to, please reach out to your researcher before your session and inform them of your concern.
Do you wear glasses?
MEG compatible glasses can be provided. If you have contact lenses, it is strongly recommended that you wear them instead of your glasses on the day of the MEG session.
Do you wear colored contacts?
While normal contacts are allowed during the experiment and are preferable to glasses, color contacts are not allowed due to the materials used to create the colored effect. It is strongly recommended that you use normal, uncolored contacts on the day of your experiment.
What clothing should you wear for your experiment?
Please avoid wearing articles of clothing with metal components. This includes but is not limited to bras with underwire, belts with buckles, or jackets with large zippers or metal buttons. Scrubs can be provided on the day of the experiment, but it recommended that you leave any clothing with metal components at home.
Can you wear exercise, anti-odor, or anti-microbial clothing to your scan?
Anti-odor and anti-microbial clothing usually contains silver microfiber threads. These threads may impact the data quality of the MEG equipment. Please check that the clothing you wear to your MEG session does not contain silver microfibers. Typical brands that use silver microfibers include but are not limited to Lululemon, Athleta, Omniheat, and Columbia. Scrubs can be provided on the day of the scan, but it is recommended that you leave any clothing containing silver microfibers at home. If you are not certain whether a particular piece of clothing contains silver microfibers, please err on the side of caution and leave it at home.
Do you wear any body piercings or jewelry?
All jewelry must be removed before the experiment. This includes bracelets, necklaces, earrings, magnetic eyelashes, body piercings, and any other articles normally worn. You will have the opportunity to remove all jewelry before the experiment, but it is recommended to be sure that all items are easily removable before your arrival.
Do you have braces or permanent retainer?
Permanent retainers and braces can sometimes impact data quality. Thus, some researchers may wish to know if you have them before the experiment. Please reach out to your researcher before your MEG session and inform them if you have either of these items
Do you have any metal implants or magnetically activated devices?
If so, please inform the researcher of these items before your arrival. These devices can sometimes impact data quality during the MEG session. Please reach out to your researcher before your MEG session and inform them if you have an implant metallic or magnetic implant.
Have you ever been injured by a metallic object or foreign body (e.g. shrapnel, bullet, BB, etc.)?
MEG equipment is highly sensitive to metal. Thus, the presence of metal can impact data quality. If you have been injured by a metallic foreign body, please reach out to your researcher before your scan session and inform them.
Our MEG Lab is located in room C35D, on the bottom floor of the Princeton Neuroscience Institute building. The map below has been provided for your convenience.
