Incorporating an ERP Project into Undergraduate Instruction

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience Education
• Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a feasible technique for undergraduate curricula due to advances in open-source tools.
• Implementing EEG in laboratory courses offers hands-on research experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To integrate EEG experiment design, data recording, and event-related potential (ERP) analysis into an undergraduate cognitive neuroscience course.
• To assess student learning and appreciation of EEG methods through a semester-long project.

Main Methods:

• Students participated in a one-semester laboratory course, learning EEG setup and analysis.
• Groups designed novel EEG experiments, collected behavioral and EEG data over two weeks.
• Students analyzed their data, presenting findings via presentations and a final paper.

Main Results:

• Students reported a deeper understanding of cognitive neuroscience methods.
• Participants gained a greater appreciation for the strengths and limitations of EEG.
• The project successfully guided students through experimental design to data analysis.

Conclusions:

• Hands-on EEG projects can effectively enhance undergraduate neuroscience education.
• Accessibility of EEG recording equipment and software is crucial for broader implementation.
• Future efforts should focus on creating publicly available datasets and open-source EEG analysis software.