DCN 128 VERSION 1.0 COPYRIGHT 2006 JOHN N DEMOS

INSTRUCTIONS FOR 4 CHANNEL ATLANTIS AND MINI-Q II

You have just purchased Reference database software that works in conjunction with four other products: (1) Atlantis 4+4 (2) BrainMaster Mini-Q II switch box, (3) Electro Cap International E1 LEX Lexicor Cap and (4) Excel

DCN and BrainMaster software Upgrade Problems:

1- Upgrading BrainMaster corrupts DCN128
2- Upgrading BrainMaster temporarily voids your passkey

 Solutions to problems:

1- Corrective software is available from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

2- Run one training session to re-activate your passkey.

DCN and Excel:

* XP requires Excel 2003 (change Macro security to Medium)
* Vista requires Excel 2007 (place DCN on safe list)

Getting Started with DCN128

1- Obtain a new Passkey from BrainMaster that includes both DCN128 & MiniQ activation.
2- Reset Macro security to Medium or place DCN128 on safe program list.
3- Click Review Software (BrainMaster's B Review page)
4- Click DCN Icon
5- Choose "enable macros"

HOW TO CREATE A DESKTOP SHORTCUT

1- Click BrainMaster's desktop icon,
2- click "Review Session Results,"
3- click "Review SW.
4- Drag and drop the (DCN 128 Icon) shortcut to desktop.

WHERE TO PUT YOUR MINI-Q DATA

1.  Open up the "My Documents" folder and add a "new folder" and rename it "Mini-Q data" or some other appropriate name. Each time you process Mini-Q data save it to the "Mini-Q data" folder found in "My-Documents."

HOW TO OBTAIN THE DATA

When setting up a client folder use"Mini-Q John Demos Standard Settings" Standard Mini-Q settings will not work properly with DCN128.

1.Set up a client folder and choose John Demos Mini-Q settings. Next, click "Session Control" and check "use Session Wizard to control session (Mini-Q). Click the "Session  Wizard" button and select miniq 4X4 60 second runs.mqt. 

2. Have client sit on upright chair (for now). Once Cap is on have client sit in reclining chair with neck support.

3. Place ear clips on test subject (5,000 ohms maximum; less than 5.0 is preferred)-(Use 3M 2.0 inch square pads with Neuroprep).

4. Place Lexicor/Deymed Cap on test subject. Connect ear clips and secure cap on head using chin straps. If the cap is too small the muscle artifact will result, if the cap is too large impedance troubles will ensue.

5. Plug cap connector into Mini-Q hardware.

6. Plug in the Mini-Q leads into the appropriate places in the Atlantis input cable.

7. Inject Electro Gel fluid into the following "17" sites: Ground plus Fz, Cz, F3, F4, F7, F8, C3, C4, P3, P4, T3, T4, T5, T6, O1, O2. (The ground position is just anterior to Fz). Important: using excessive electro gel results in a salt bridge!!

8. Lightly abrade all 17 sites with the Kendall 6" wooden end Q-tip--DO NOT abade with metal syringe!!:re-abrade the Ground position. Do not break the skin or cut into the scalp. Proper abrading is an art. The Electro Cap International (ECI) DVD or VHS demonstrates abrading skills with the metal syringe--but the Kendall Q-tip works much better and with much less discomfort for the testee. (abrading requires a gentle twisting action-if wooden end swells throw away and use a new one. Up to three Q-tips are required for each testee.)

9. Observe the client's raw EEG before starting the Mini-Qs Countdown timer.

10. Click the Mini-Q to position #1 (Fz+Cz+T3+T4) observe the raw data and re-abrade. Repeat for the remaining 3 positions.

11. Make sure all 8 green impedance lights are flashing slowly at all 4 Mini-Q switch box positions.

12. What if the impedance is above 5000 ohms? (Or, what if the green lights are flashing quickly or lets say the flashing lights are red or yellow). In this case take a Kendall 6 inch wooden end Q tip and put Nuprep on the wooden tip and reabrade the errant site. This will likely lower your impedance rapidly. In difficult cases, place NuPrep on the cotton side of Kendal Q-tip and push into electrode hole, then abrade with wooden end as usual.

13. Now that your testee is on the reclining chair with neck support instruct them how to limit or reduce artifacts. Show the testee how jaw movements, blinking, coughing and movement can distort the EEG. It is essential that the testee understands his or her part in keeping the data pure and free from artifacts.

14. Now you are ready to run BrainMaster software with the John Demos Mini-Q settings and Session Wizard template set for 4 postions at 60 seconds each.

16. Put the switch box into position #1 Fz+Cz+T3+T4.

17. Instruct the client to close their eyes. Observe the EEG and begin recording once the EEG looks normal (usually 10-15 seconds). Do not begin recording unless EEG is relatively free of artifact and noise. Repeat this method at each of the 4 switch box positions. You will be prompted by a standard windows sound each time a cycle has concluded.

18. Once the recording has concluded go to the "BReview" page and rename the qat.00001.csv folder: John Doe-eyes closed-qat.00001.csv. (in the "My documents\Mini-Q Data" folder)

19. Now it's time to repeat the process, only this time with eyes open.

20. Return your switch box to the first position.

21. Rerun the same Mini-Q folder you have already set up for this client.

22. Repeat the above only this time with eyes open. Unlike eyes closed recordings, the testee must be instructed to look down at a single small object in the room. They must limit or avoid all blinking or eye movement. Do not begin data acquisition until you are satisfied with the quality of the recording (usually you have to wait 10-30 seconds before the EEG looks good). Stop the recording and if necessary and begin again (rerun), from the very beginning: Fz+Cz+T3+T4.

23. Make it a habit to do eyes closed first and eyes open second.

24. Once the recording has concluded go to the "BReview" page and rename the qat.00002.csv folder as John Doe-eyes open-qat.00002.csv. Save the Quick-File spread sheet information to the "My Documents\MiniQ data."

Reading and Interpreting the Data

1. Click on your desktop "DCN" shortcut. Choose the "eyes closed" selection. Type in the testee's name and the date of the test. Press the Process bar and you will see a standard window's menu. Find the folder labeled "MiniQ data" and then select "JohnDoe-Eyes Closed-q0001.csv." Once you click okay the DCN128 v.1.0 goes to work processing the data with the eyes closed database. Charts, tables and topographical  brain maps will be instantly created. The user must be familiar with Window's Excel operation. Click each tab separately to observe different features of the data. You may have to expand the lower scroll bar to see all of the tabs. The last tab is entitled: "Print/Close."

2. Each tab will present you with usable information about your client. You will quickly spot abnormal EEG  activity.

3. The "Summary' tab was designed to be a guide. Using the DSM IV diagnosis that has already been assigned to this client, you may wish to choose one of the categories to guide protocol selection. Specific rewards and inhibits are suggested. However, you will need to decide what sites to work and what type of montage is appropriate be it intrahemispheric monopolar or bipolar or you may choose an inter-hemispheric bipolar. Other options include single filter or multi-filter, one-channel or two-channel protocol designs.

4. After reviewing the topographical brain maps you may wish to print your results. The "Print/Close" tab will guide through the printing process. [Repeat steps 1 - 4 for Eyes Open Data].

5. In some cases you may wish to print as a PDF. If you need a basic PDF printer one online source is www.pdffactory.com which will allow you to print all 20 pages with one key stroke. (Other PDF converters allow you to choose one page at a time)

6. If you wish to print out your results with a PDF it is necessary to go into "Control Panel" and choose your PDF converter as your default printer before you open DCN128.

7. Close the file when you are finished and you will be returned to the original menu.

8. Close DCN128 with the close tab, but you must then close Excel with the "X" box in the upper right hand corner of your screen.

Cautions

Clinicians using DCN128 ver.1.0 must be familiar with EEG data acquisition, artifact limiting and impedance checking. While data are being acquired you must carefully scrutinize the quality of the raw EEG. The EEG must be as pure as possible and free from artifacts caused by bodily movements, eye blinking, eye rolls, jaw clenching, etc. The results will only be as good as the data acquired. "Do not begin recording data at any switch location until you are satisfied that the raw EEG is relatively free of artifacts." BrainMaster has a special feature which will help eliminate intermittent artifacts. Under "Setup Options" find the tab entitled: "Data Channels." Find the "Artifact Threshold" space that is set at 240 MicroVolts. Each client has an optimum setting that will remove eye-blink and eye movement artifacts while allowing good data to remain. Often this variable setting is between 75 and 125 MicroVolts. Eyes closed settings are often higher thanEyes Open settings. Each time the Artifact Threshold removes data you will see the removed portion of the EEG turn pink. Just because you have found an optimum setting for one switch box position such as Fz-Cz, that does not mean that one setting will work at all 6 switchbox positions. Each position must be checked for artifact peaks before the Mini-Q assessment begins. If your chosen setting is too low, then too much good data will be removed. (Remember when you press the "r" character on your keyboard the threshold goes up and when you press shift "r" the threshold goes down--on the fly). The BReview page reveals how many seconds of data are removed: Choose the settings tab and click "Report" to find out how much data has been removed. Acquiring clean EEG data is an art and often requires supervision and additional training. For example, muscle artifact is often present at T3 and T4. On the one hand, if your client has excessive or diffuse EEG slowing then EMG artifact at T3 and T4 will have little effect on the results. On the other hand, if your client has excessive or diffuse EEG activity from 13-28 Hz then muscle artifact at T3 and T4 may greatly compromise the value of your recording. I have separated the Delta page, but in no way should Delta activity be ignored. In some cases Delta activity is the main issue. In other cases delta activity only reflect eye blinking or eye movement.

Know the difference between EMG and EEG morphology. (BrainMaster software has a "playback" feature that allows you to review the Raw EEG data). Learn how to use the Playback feature, obtain supervision if needed.