Category: OpenBCI

Interested in creating a Spectrogram of your brainwaves?

Using my OpenBCI Ganglion I took two readings of test subject DH, which I sent to my friend KOB to analyze. KOB is comfortable using EEGRUNT to analyze EEG readings, and was even able to make changes to the software to make it able to analyze Ganglion readings.

 

Autodidacts blog has created a very professional container for both the OpenBCI Cyton and the OpenBCI Ganglion called the BCIBox. This is an open source project, so they have posted complete instructions on how to create your own BCIBox using laser cutting and 3D printing. Or you can do what I did and just order the pre-made kit for $35, plus a delivery fee ($10 in my case).

Creating an OpenBCI Ganglion Container

The OpenBCI Ganglion EEG reader is great, but it does ship as a very bare bones circuit board. Circuit boards do need to be dealt with carefully so as not to damage them with static electricity, so a container is quite helpful.

Luckily Autodidacts has created a beautiful OpenSource container for both the OpenBCI Cyton and the Ganglion. Will blog about this BCIBox in more detail later on.

On the other hand, if you want to make a container out of cardboard here are instructions on creating an inexpensive cardboard container for the OpenBCI Ganglion.

For reference see: OpenBCI Ganglion Getting Started Tutorial

Reading Your Brainwaves

Once you’ve attached your electrodes, and turned on your Ganglion.

Once the Ganglion is connected to your computer (see previous instructions), it is time to take your first EEG reading.

Start your OpenBCI program:

For reference see: OpenBCI Ganglion Getting Started Tutorial

Setting up the electrodes

First turn off your Ganglion and take out your tiny screwdriver.

Next to the input pins are 4 tiny switches:

For reference see: OpenBCI Ganglion Getting Started Tutorial

Connecting the Ganglion to Your Computer

Your OpenBCI Ganglion will have arrived with a bluetooth dongle. Note, if the dongle is missing you can always buy another one at the OpenBCI Store or on Amazon.

From the OpenBCI tutorial “IMPORTANT: The BLE Dongle must be a verified CSR 4.0 Dongle!”

For reference see: OpenBCI Ganglion Getting Started Tutorial

OpenBCI Software

The next step is to download the OpenBCI GUI Software, go to the OpenBCI download page :

and choose either the Windows 64 or Windows 32 version. Note if you are not sure which one is correct, go to your Windows control panel, and choose System, where it will say whether your Windows is a 32-bit or 64-bit Operating System (note, most newer computers are 64-bit). Then download and save to your computer. In my case I saved to a desktop folder which I named OpenBCI, and since my computer is 64-bit the file name is application.windows64.zip.

OpenBCI has a inexpensive EEG Machine called the Ganglion, which can easily be bought at the OpenBCI online store:

Ganglion Board (4-channels)

For a 4 channel EEG Machine, the Ganglion $199 price tag is incredibly inexpensive, but it does take some work to setup and use, so here is how I got it to work with Windows 10. Note the same instructions should work for Windows 8, but you’ll need different instructions for Windows 7, Mac, etc.

Here’s what arrived in the mail: