Obtaining Somatosensory Stimulation-Related Signals from Orofacial Skin Stretching

Begin with a human participant whose scalp is covered with an electroencephalography or EEG cap containing multiple electrodes to record brain activity.

Additional electrodes are attached around the eyes to detect eye movements.

Secure the participant's head in a headrest to minimize movement and provide a safety switch for emergencies.

Attach plastic tabs with double-sided tape to the facial skin, lateral to the oral angle.

These tabs are connected to a robotic device via thin strings that control the movement of the facial skin.

Fix the participant's eyes on a point on the display screen to reduce eye movement artifacts.

Use the robotic device to pull the string, stretching the facial skin.

This provides somatosensory stimulation and activates the cutaneous mechanoreceptors in the underlying sensory nerves, generating electrical signals that travel to the brain.

Record the electrical signals from individual electrodes to obtain somatosensory stimulation-related responses.

Begin by placing the participant's head in the headrest in order to minimize head motion during stimulation. Remove any electrode cables between the head and headrest. Then, ask the participant to hold the safet