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IP Address

Fully erase the default “Enter_IP_Address Here” text and enter the IP address of your bossdevice. Include the periods but not the parentheses. If you have not manually changed your bossdevice’s IP address, your bossdevice’s IP address should be "192.168.7.5". The app will not allow values that are in the wrong format.

The bossapp RESEARCH will remember the IP address between sessions unless one of the following happens. In that case, you will need to re-enter the IP address.

  • The IP address gets erased or removed.
  • You uninstalled or re-installed the bossapp RESEARCH.
  • You update the bossapp RESEARCH.

Disconnected/Connected

This button connects and disconnects your bossapp RESEARCH session to your bossdevice RESEARCH. If your bossdevice is on, but this button has not been toggled to “Connected”, you cannot use your bossdevice with the bossapp.

If the connection cannot be established, a pop-up window will open telling you to check your internet connection. Shortly after, an additional pop-up window will open with information about the failed connection. You do not need to check your internet connection. Close the pop-up windows and check the following.

  • The bossdevice is on.
  • The bossdevice is connected to the Control PC via ethernet cable, and the cable is plugged into the "Control PC" port on the bossdevice and the correct port on your computer. See Setup and Configuration.
  • The correct IP address was entered in the bossapp RESEARCH. The default IP address is "192.168.7.5".

Notes

  • “Disconnected/Connected” represents only the connection between your bossdevice and the bossapp. "Connected" does not signify that the amplifier or TMS unit are connected or functioning. It is possible to display "connected" without the amplifier or TMS unit plugged in or working.
  • This connection does not mean that your bossdevice is processing data. This only means that the bossdevice and the control PC have a connected line for communication.

Main Control

Even if the amplifier sends data to the bossdevice, the bossdevice will not process the data until the “Start” button under “Main Control” is pressed. Plots will not be shown or updated until “Main Control” has been started.

Once started, the bossdevice will process incoming data. This includes applying filters, calculating noise, displaying plots, and all other functions outside of sending triggers.

Notes

  • Main Control "Start" does not start a protocol and will not send triggers.
  • Main Control will start so long as the bossdevice is "connected". It will run with or without an amplifier connected. It will also run if the EEG configuration and channels do not match the channels of the amplifier. If an amplifier is not connected or the wrong channels are being indexed, computations will run on zeros. This will be clear on the displayed signals.

EEG Amplifier

Once the bossdevice is “connected”, this lamp will be green if an amplifier is detected and red if an amplifier is not detected.

Note

The green lamp indicates that an amplifier is turned on and sending data to the bossdevice but does not indicate that the electrodes are plugged in nor that the EEG project configuration is correct. This indicator can be on while the amp sends random noise or incorrectly indexed signals.

If the EEG Amplifier Indicator does not turn green, ensure the following:

  • Your amplifier (including the TurboLink for actiCHamp users) is turned on.
  • Your amplifier is correctly connected to the bossdevice's "Biosignal" port via ethernet cable. See Setup and Configuration.
  • Your EEG recording software is properly configured.
  • You have properly entered the bossdevice’s IP address in the EEG recording software. See Setup and Configuration.
  • You have started the recording in the EEG recording software.

EEG Channels Configuration

This section shows which channel configuration is selected, and the dropdown allows you to switch between other loaded configurations.

EEG configurations define the incoming EEG data, including the number of channels, channel types, channel names, and spatial filter weights. It is possible to save many channel configurations on your computer. It is also possible to have multiple channel configurations loaded within the bossapp simultaneously, allowing you to switch between configurations for easy comparison. However, it is only possible to have a single configuration selected for the bossapp to run on at a time.

Notes

  • Configurations with an * after the name have not been saved.
  • Whenever you open the bossapp RESEARCH, the session starts with a default, blank EEG Configuration. This configuration will have a single channel and serves as a placeholder.
  • The EEG Tab—Configuration Subtab explains how to create and save new configurations and how to load and delete configurations.

Protocol Control

This section contains the information related to generating and sending triggers from the bossdevice to TMS and auxiliary devices for your currently selected protocol.

The bossdevice will only send triggers if “Protocol Control” has been started or the "Send Manual Trigger" (blue square wave symbol) button has been pressed.

Send Manual Trigger (Blue Square Wave)

This button sends a trigger sequence defined under the "Protocol" tab when pressed. If you have a protocol loaded, it will send the trigger sequence associated with the last row. If you do not have a protocol loaded, the default template protocol's trigger sequence is a single pulse over BNC port 1 with the marker (1). This can be helpful to make sure the system is connected and sending triggers as expected.

Start

Clicking start will begin the loaded protocol. Once the protocol is started the bossdevice will send triggers when the pre-defined criteria are met. Toggling “Start” to “Stop” during the protocol will reset the current condition. Pressing “Stop” will not restart the protocol from the beginning. If you want to restart the protocol from the beginning, click “Reset” in the "Protocol Control" box under the “Protocol” tab.

Protocol

This section shows which protocol is selected, and the dropdown allows you to switch between other loaded protocols.

Protocols define the criteria for firing and the closed-loop design. This includes which frequency band to target, phase to target, phase tolerance, amplitude thresholds, and the number, sequence, and port of triggers. It is possible to save many protocols on your computer. It is also possible to have multiple protocols loaded within the bossapp simultaneously, allowing you to switch between protocols for easy comparison.

Notes

  • Protocols with an * after the name have not been saved.
  • Whenever you open the bossapp RESEARCH, the session starts with a default, blank protocol. This protocol will have a single condition, including all three frequency bands and a single trigger. This protocol serves as a placeholder.
  • The Protocol Tab - Conditions Table explains how to create and save new protocols and how to load and delete protocols.

Current Condition

Which condition within the defined protocol you are currently in. (Which row in the table)

# Triggers Remaining

This section shows how many triggers (that is, all triggers associated with a condition cycle) are left in your selected protocol. Each time the conditions are met, and a trigger sequence is sent, this number will decrease.

Generator Running

This lamp will illuminate whenever a trigger is sent.

Clean Signal Status

When “Main Control” has been started, the bossdevice continuously processes data from the amplifier. This includes applying filters, running the autoregressive signal prediction algorithm, and calculating if the predefined conditions required to send a trigger are met. One requirement is that the signal is clean enough to run these calculations. During periods when the signal is clean enough to meet the criteria, the lamp will be green, and the binary timecourse will stay at 1. During periods when the signal is not clean enough to meet the criteria, the lamp will be red, and the binary timecourse will stay at 0.

“Clean Signal Status” considers the Eyeblink and Range Artifacts and the Oscillation Amplitude, which can be tuned in the Artifacts and Oscillations tabs. The default values for these thresholds are set to always be met. However, appropriate values for these thresholds will vary by person and protocol. Generally, setting the thresholds so that “Clean Signal Status” stays green for 5 seconds is appropriate.

Notes

  • If a protocol has not been started, the bossdevice will not send triggers, even if “Clean Signal Status” is green.
  • Even if a protocol has been started, the bossdevice will not fire if “Clean Signal Status” is red.

If your Clean Signal Status is rarely or never green, you may need to consider the following:

  • The quality of your EEG signal. Are your electrodes prepared well? Are impedances low? Are ground and reference working properly?
  • Is there a large amount of electromagnetic noise in your recording space? Common sources include electronic devices, electrical outlets, incandescent lights, CRT monitors, and intercom systems among many others.
  • Is your subject uncomfortable? If so, they may move frequently or tense their muscles.
  • Is your signal of interest robust? Does the location and configuration of your spatial filter and frequency band of interest produce a reliable signal?
  • Does your subject have the signal of interest at sufficient strength for the protocol? Individual differences result in some people being disqualified due to insufficient signal.