Hyperscanning series part 2:
How to do hyperscanning with CGX Quick Systems

In the first article of the hyperscanning¹ series, we discussed our gold-standard recommendations for hyperscanning with BrainAmp, our stationary, lab-based, modular system, which may be used with passive or active gel-based electrode technology. This is a great solution, but have you ever thought about bringing this setup into a different direction? What if we told you that you can do hyperscanning in real world scenarios, with no gel, no residuals, no cap preparation time, and in a fully mobile, wireless setting?

In this second article of our hyperscanning series, we will focus on the CGX Quick Systems, which are innovative active, dry electrode EEG headsets integrated with Brain Products’ technology and software.

The Quick Systems, namely the Quick-20r v2 and the Quick-32r, are a game changer in the EEG world, thanks to a series of features that enable a fast, intuitive, clean, and mobile setup, while still ensuring high data quality.

When it comes to hyperscanning, the signal from multiple participants is measured for subsequent co-analysis, therefore, it is crucial to find a way of synchronizing the different time series of data. One way to do so is to share triggers between the different devices. The good news is that the CGX Quick Systems meet these requirements for your wireless hyperscanning setup.

The answer is easy: you should combine the Quick Systems with the CGX Wireless StimTrigger.

The CGX Wireless StimTrigger is a multi-purpose triggering device, co-developed by CGX and Cedrus, that can receive input from different sources and forward them via wireless transmission to a virtually unlimited number of in-range CGX devices (~20 meters).

The device is essentially plug-and-play because it automatically pairs with all the compatible devices in the environment and sends the desired triggers, without the need for software timing compensation for latency and jitter. This provides millisecond precision (<2 ms), making experiments simple and reliable, as in a traditional wired setup.

Additional advantages of the Quick Systems for hyperscanning applications are intrinsically connected to the design of this headset solution. In fact, the Quick Systems can be self-donned and easily used in real-life environments, such as offices or classrooms, where participants are not necessarily willing to engage in a lengthy cap preparation and subsequent hair washing. Moreover, thanks to the one-size-fits-all concept (fitting range: 52 – 62cm, adolescents through adults), you do not have to worry about which cap sizes you should bring. Finally, since the Quick Systems are wireless, the range of movement of your participants is not limited by the length of wires or cables between the participant and the recording computer.

In principle, the number of recipient devices with which the Wireless StimTrigger can share triggers is virtually unlimited. However, it should be kept in mind that the more wireless devices and physical barriers in the same environment, the higher the likelihood for wireless data transmission to be affected. In ideal conditions, up to 8 Quick Systems can be simultaneously used. Keep in mind, however, that it is always better to pilot test your setup before committing to a full-blown data collection. Below, you can find some suggestions that you might want to consider in order to optimize your hyperscanning experience and make subsequent analysis as smooth as possible:

Optimization of the recording environment

Visualization, peripheral physiology, and trigger codes

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