Where do I find the option to connect Brainstorm to a live EEG amplifier?

Discussions
1

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to connect Brainstorm to a live EEG device and stream real-time EEG data directly into Brainstorm. However, I’m using the binary version (Brainstorm_250210_bin.zip) that does not require MATLAB, and I haven’t found a clear way to enable live data acquisition from my EEG device.

My Setup:

  • EEG Amplifier: Natus Nicolet V32 with HB-4 headbox
  • Network Setup: My EEG device has a static private IP in the 192.168.x.x range. (Confirmed via Wireshark) and this EEG sends UDP packets
  • Brainstorm Version: Brainstorm_250210_bin.zip (Standalone, No MATLAB)

What I Have Tried:

  1. Enabled Preferences: Looked in File > Edit Preferences, but there’s no obvious option for "Live Acquisition" or "Online Recording."
  2. Checked Menus: Right-clicked my protocol, explored File > Import MEG/EEG, but only found options for importing pre-recorded EEG, not live streaming.
  3. Verified Data from EEG: Used Wireshark and confirmed the EEG is sending data to [IP address].
  4. Tried Adding a Device: Looked for Plugins, Tools, or Device Setup, but I haven’t found an option to manually enter an IP/port for live streaming.

Questions:

  • Does the standalone version of Brainstorm support live EEG acquisition?
  • If yes, where do I configure Brainstorm to receive live EEG data from my device?
  • If no, what alternative methods can I use to process real-time EEG (e.g., OpenViBE)?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for your help.

Best,
Talie

2

Hello Talie,

While we have done some experimental work on neurofeedback, real-time processing is not in the near-future developments. Brainstorm is thought as a tool to analyze outline brain signals.

You could however, manage to use some Brainstorm code on your online setup. Check the recommendations on this old post:

3

Real-time features are indeed not fully integrated in Brainstorm yet, however, if you can leverage some of the Brainstorm libraries, you will be able to write a script that gets real-time data from the FieldTrip real-time buffer. This is explained and demonstrated in the following publications: https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/327953; Redirecting

4

Thank you for your replies! I will check it out.