Magnets and Blood PressureBiomedical researchers in China have recently investigated the possibility of using magnets to alter a person’s blood pressure. They constructed a device that applies a weak, rotating magnetic field around the cerebral cortex. The researchers used a BIOPAC MP150 Data Acquisition System to obtain continuous blood pressure data. What they found was that the device did have a significant effect on the subjects’ blood pressure, and the effect did vary depending on both the magnetic field’s frequency and position. This novel idea could provide a viable alternative to hypertension drugs. You can read the entire article here.
It has been proposed that the mechanisms that cause ADHD may also be tied to an increase in epileptic activity. Bulgarian neuroscientists have taken a look at using rats as a model to help understand the relationship between the diseases. They used spontaneously hypertensive rats as a model for ADHD and analyzed their brain EEG waveforms to assess their usefulness to explore ADHD-epilepsy co-morbidity. They used an MP150 system to acquire EEG data from the rats, and analyzed the data with AcqKnowledge software. Their findings supported the idea that these rats are a good fit for understanding mechanisms behind ADHD and epilepsy in humans, thus providing a new tool for modeling human cognitive disorder. Read the paper here.
A major challenge that exists for patients suffering from refractory status epilepticus (RSE) is the development of resistance to drugs. Researchers have proposed that using controlled hypothermia may provide therapeutic effects for RSE patients. To test this, they chemically induced SE seizures in rats, and then tested the effect of deep hypothermia, achieved by placing the rats in a bag of ice, on the magnitude of the seizures. They used a BIOPAC EEG amplifier with an MP150 system to observe the epileptic activity of the rats. It was found that hypothermia did shorten the seizures, thus reducing the amount of neural damage caused. This new method may provide a useful alternative to drugs in RSE patients. You can read the entire paper here.
Use to measure clench force in the MRI; clench force range 0-50 kgf. The lightweight, ergonomically designed transducer provides direct readings in kilograms or pounds. Use in isolation or combine with EMG recordings for in-depth studies of muscular activity. The isometric design improves experiment repeatability and accuracy. The TSD121B-MRI has an 8 meter cable terminated for connection […]
View AllDiscovering and understanding what motivates humans to produce better results has intrigued many researchers. Many researchers have explored the psychophysiological processes that drive our behavior. Here are some recent studies that have used BIOPAC systems to research motivation… Motivation and Pleasure Deficits Undermine the Benefits of Social Affiliation in Psychosis. Blanchard, J. J., Smith, J. […]
Eye tracking technology has come a long way and has enabled researchers to conduct mobile experiments and track participants in real world scenarios. These featured studies demonstrate some of the use cases for mobile eye tracking technology. Here are some recent studies that have used BIOPAC systems for eye tracking research… Drivers’ gaze patterns when resuming […]
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