HKU EEG Experiment

HKU EEG Lab Notes from 6/1/26–6/3/26

6/1/26:

I learned what linguistics was today.

Linguistics:

Scientific study of language.

Finding common principles in languages.

How children learn to speak

How we understand sentences instantly

How the brain processes words.

Linguistic competence vs performance.

Competence:

When reading a novel, you are unaware that you are using your grammar knowledge.

Implicit knowledge: using it without being aware.

Automatic knowledge: automatically

Sometimes non-linguists can detect errors in sentences but cannot explain them.

Cognitive mechanism: innately programmed in the human brain.

Grammar: it allows for the creative use of language.

An infinite array of expression with a finite set of rules.

Semantics: (meaning)

Phonology: (pronunciation)

Verb syntax: Grammar

Performance: How competence is used in real life.

Performance does not equal competence.

2nd language:

Use ERP to track brain waves of P600: grammar and N400 (word).

A graph of N400 and P600 activity. Used to help me understand how they worked.

6/2/26

Lab mock:

First, get the gel out of fridge.

Next, take 2 swabs and needles.

Then, use the green gel on swab and the white one on needles.

After, measure the subject’s head and put the center node on the middle point of the head.

Then, put green gel below the node and then inject the white gel.

Then, rotate the needle after injecting the gel.

Finally, tell the participant the instructions on screen.

This is a picture of the certificate I received from the completion of the lab.

6/3/26:

We did the test on real subject.

I helped put the gel on the subject’s head.

We watched as the EEG detected brainwaves.

I saw how it worked.

Finally, the head size of the patient decides the chin strap size.

This is a sample image of the EEG being on a subject’s head. I was not allowed to take pictures of the experiment.