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Physiology

Last modified by Iris Spruit on 2026/01/22 15:40
Contents

Overview

In the section pages and their sub-pages, information concerning physiology and stimulation can be found. 

Getting Started

To get started, useful information and links can be found below for some frequently used physiology measurements. Note that the information provided here is not exhaustive and describes software and hardware options that are commonly used at SSH Leiden, and that are supported by SOLO lab and research support. For other Physiology measurements, please see the Navigation.

In general, for Leiden University SSH staff, equipment for measuring physiology can be borrowed from SOLO, please contact labsupport at labsupport@fsw.leidenuniv.nl. When you want to start measuring physiology in one of the SSH labs, please contact the lab manager at labmanager-ssh@leidenuniv.nl.

ECG and Skin Conductance

Lab

Most ECG and skin conductance equipment can be used in the SSH labs at Agora and Sylvius, but also at external locations, such as schools, homes, festivals, etc. Additionally, ECG and skin conductance equipment is available at the LIBC MRI scanner.

Protocol

When measuring ECG and/or skin conductance, the appropriate protocols must be followed:

Hardware

At SSH Leiden, ECG and skin conductance are mainly measured with BIOPAC equipment. BIOPAC offers both wired and wireless modules, suited for most research needs. The BIOPAC hardware is controlled with the BIOPAC AcqKnowledge software.

Alternatively, VU-AMS equipment can be used. The VU-AMS system mobile and allows for ambulatory monitoring. The VU-AMS can be used in combination with the VU-DAMS software.

Stimulus Presentation Software

ECG and skin conductance measurements can be used in combination with various stimulus presentation software. In most cases, it is required to send event markers from the stimulus PC to the physiology hardware, so that the physiological data can be segmented into meaningful segments for further statistical analysis (see for more information on markers and events: Markers and Events - SOLO Research Wiki).

BIOPAC equipment can receive digital input markers. At Leiden University custom marker devices have been created that are easily connected between the stimulus presentation PC and BIOPAC, the UsbParMarker and Eva. When using BIOPAC with a UsbParMarker or Eva, the following software options can be considered:

VU-AMS equipment can receive events from the stimulus PC only while connected to the PC. To send events from stimulus presentation software, the following software options can be considered:

Analysis

ECG and skin conductance data collected with BIOPAC or VU-AMS can most easily be pre-processed for further data analysis with the PhysioData Toolbox. Checkout the walkthrough to get started. Alternatively, BIOPAC data can be pre-processed with AcqKnowledge and VU-AMS data with VU-DAMS.

EEG

Lab

EEG equipment can be installed in most of the SSH labs at Agora or Sylvius. In some cases, equipment can be used on external locations.

Protocol

When measuring EEG, the appropriate protocol must be followed: EEG - SOLO Research Wiki. Note that a training is required before measuring EEG at the SSH labs, contact the lab manager at labmanager-ssh@leidenuniv.nl for more information.

Hardware

At SSH Leiden, EEG is mainly measured with BioSemi. The BioSemi hardware is controlled with the BioSemi ActiView software.

Stimulus Presentation software

EEG can be measured in combination with various stimulus presentation software. In most cases, it is required to send event markers from the stimulus PC to the EEG hardware, so that the data can be segmented into meaningful segments for further statistical analysis (see for more information on markers and events: Markers and Events - SOLO Research Wiki).

BioSemi equipment can receive digital input markers. At Leiden University custom marker devices have been created that are easily connected between the stimulus presentation PC and BioSemi, the UsbParMarker and Eva. When using BioSemi with a UsbParMarker or Eva, the following software options can be considered:

Analysis

EEG data can be analysed with various software tools, such as Brain Vision Analyzer (BVA) or EEGLab. At SSH Leiden BVA can be used, see BrainVision Analyzer - SOLO Research Wiki. Support for EEG analysis software falls outside the scope of SOLO lab and research support however.

Eye Tracking

Lab

Most eye trackers can be installed in the labs at SSH Leiden. Additionally, some eye trackers are portable and can easily be used on external locations, such as home visits, festivals, etc. An EyeLink eye tracker is available at the LIBC MRI scanner.

Protocol

A protocol depends heavily on the type of eye tracker and stimulus software used, therefore no general eye tracking protocol is provided, but this page will get you started on creating your own protocol: Eye Tracking - SOLO Research Wiki.

Hardware

At SSH Leiden, different Tobii and EyeLink eye trackers are available, see Tobii Eye Trackers - SOLO Research Wiki and EyeLink - SOLO Research Wiki. The models can differ quite substantially on matters such as quality and portability, for a comparison of some of the eye tracker models, see Eye Tracker Comparison - SOLO Research Wiki.

Stimulus Presentation Software

Both Tobii and EyeLink provide their own stimulus presentation software, but it is also possible to use other stimulus presentation software that allow eye tracking communication, see below.

When using EyeLink, the following options can be considered:

When using a Tobii eye tracker, the following options can be considered:

Analysis

For gaze analysis, EyeLink and Tobii provide their own analysis tools, Data Viewer (requires license dongle) and Tobii Pro Lab (requires license key) respectively. Other gaze analysis tools require some form of programming in e.g. Python.

For pupil analysis, the PhysioData Toolbox has its own pupil analysis module, see Pupil Diameter Analyzer | PhysioData Toolbox.

Navigation

Sub Pages

Related Topics

EEG

Eye Tracking

Physiology