Laboratory services

Three separate laboratories are involved in CoBra. The location of the laboratories, devices in these laboratories, and user fees/requirements are listed below. Furthermore, any projects conducted in these facilities require approval from the appropriate ethical board (for example, the ethical board of Helsinki University Central Hospital).
Cognitive Brain Research Unit (CBRU)

CBRU hosts several electroencephalography (EEG) devices, a navigated transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (TMS) device, behavioral testing space and a plethora of devices for collecting data on autonomous nervous system activity and eye movements.

Location

Haartmaninkatu 3, Helsinki

Devices

  • Two Biosemi ActiveTwo EEG devices with up to 256 channels, Brain Products BrainAmp DC (64 channels), and two Brain Products QuickAmp (32 channels) amplifiers. Brain Products LiveAmp mobile amplifiers with 32 channels.

  • Nexstim NBS System 4.3 navigated TMS device with EEG (BrainAmp DC with 64-channels).

  • An eye-tracking device, EyeLink 1000 Plus, and plenty of equipment for collecting data on autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, to be used separately or coupled with EEG or TMS.

  • Behavioral and neuropsychological testing setups.

Analysis software

CBRU hosts an analysis room with a range of software for analyzing data obtained from various labs at CoBra. Lab users are offered multiple complete pipelines for data analysis from basic processing to statistics including a wide range of commercial and open-source tools.

Lab users can use the latest Besa tools, including Besa Research for basic processing and advanced source modeling, Besa MRI for individual head models, and Besa Statistics for advanced cluster permutation statistics for the sensor, source, and time-frequency data.

BESA Research - overview
BESA MRI - overview
BESA Statistics - overview

Also, Brain Vision Analyzer is available for EEG signal processing and analysis.

Fees

We are currently revising the user fees. Meanwhile, if you are interested in our services, please, be in touch with CoBra Chair, Prof. Teija Kujala (teija.m.kujala[at]Helsinki.fi).

Other requirements

For all new users, introductory sessions on how to operate in the laboratory are mandatory and included in the lab fee. For all new projects, a quality assurance session is mandatory.

User access policy and contact information

For any questions, do not hesitate to contact CoBra Chair Teija Kujala (teija.m.kujala[at]Helsinki.fi). Time is allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis and booking the lab(s) is done using an internal booking software.
BioMag

The BioMag Laboratory at Helsinki University Hospital provides facilities for basic research, functional brain imaging diagnostics, especially on the preoperative assessment of epilepsy patients, and for developing rehabilitation approaches for clinical purposes. Its main facilities include magnetoencephalography (MEG), navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), near-infrared spectroscopic imaging (NIRSI), and magnetocardiography (MCG).

Location

Meilahti Tower Hospital, Haartmaninkatu 4, 00290 Helsinki.

Devices

  • Elekta Neuromag Triux 306-channel MEG system with an integrated EEG (up to 96 unipolar channels)
  • Nexstim NBS System 4.3 navigated transcranial magnetic brain stimulation (TMS) with Speech option (incl. video) and Nexstim 3.2 navigated TMS (a.k.a. eXimia), both to be combined with Nexstim 64-channel EEG and electromyography (EMG).
  • 99-channel MCG device with 64-channel ECG system, and Electric Body Surface Potential Mapping system (BSPM; up to 128 unipolar channels).
  • Near-infrared spectroscopic imaging (NIRSI).
  • Tailored equipment for studying sensory and motor systems and for behavioral monitoring (e.g. eye-tracking, video monitoring time-locked with MEG).

User access policy and contact information

Outside users should contact Hanna Renvall (hanna.renvall@hus.fi) for reservation inquiries. After research permission in HUH has been granted, time can be booked using the BioMag reservation system, available for users via the internet.

Fees

For research affiliated with the University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Hospital or Aalto University, the BioMag facilities are currently available without direct fees for users. For other organizations or users, please contact Hanna Renvall (hanna.renvall(at)hus.fi).

Other requirements

For starting a research project, a general level description of the BioMag facilities is available on request. For researchers affiliated with UH, HUH, or AU, support in carrying out measurements can be agreed on. For more extensive familiarization or analysis assistance, please contact Hanna Renvall (hanna.renvall@hus.fi).
BABA-Center

BABA (BAby Brain Activity) is the first clinical research center in Finland dedicated to studying baby brain activity using a wide range of behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG) methods.

Location

Helsinki University Central Hospital, Children's Castle, Lastenlinnantie 2

Devices

  • Custom-built high-resolution EEG systems for infant and pediatric studies.
  • Two eye-tracking systems built for infant psychophysical and neurocognitive studies.
  • Neuropsychological testing setups.
  • Video-based infant mobility analysis.

User access policy and contact information

Due to the clinical nature of the BABA center, access to the laboratory and its use are always decided on a case by case basis. For access, contact sampsa.vanhatalo(at)helsinki.fi

Fees

Due to the range of clinical populations studied in the center, costs can drastically vary between the studies. Once a study plan is finalized, the plan is reviewed by the BABA center personnel, after which fees are determined.

Other requirements

Clinical studies require the responsible researcher to be a qualified medical doctor.