A rapid method for determining standard 10/10 electrode positions for high resolution EEG studies

Abstract

This report describes the basic principle and examines the comparative accuracy of a novel method for locating 3-D coordinates of electrode positions on the head. The method involves calculation of the 3-D coordinates for any array of 10/10 electrode positions from 14 straight-line distances between 11 10/10 electrodes. In 11 subjects the 3-D coordinates of 64 scalp electrodes embedded in an electrode cap were identified with the novel method, and also with a standard commercial magnetic field digitizer. The outcomes from the two methods were compared with directly measured coordinates of all 64 positions (cf. De Munck, J.C., Vijn, P.C.M. and Spekreijse, H. A practical method for determining electrode positions on the head. Electroenceph. clin. Neurophysiol., 1991, 89: 85–87). Coordinates in 3 dimensions obtained using the new method were significantly closer to the directly measured values than those from the magnetic field digitizer. The new method was also quicker and requires less specialized instrumentation than the magnetic field digitization method. The novel method appears to be a valid and convenient tool for use with EEG analysis techniques that require specific information about 10/10 electrode positions.