Laboratories and equipment

Facilities within the Emotion, Learning, and Psychophysiology Laboratory comprise three permanent psychophysiological research laboratories, one mobile psychophysiological research laboratory, one permanent cognitive research laboratory, and one psychophysiological teaching laboratory. In addition, we have access to eye tracking equipment and to fMRI equipment operated by the Center for Magnetic Resonance at UQ. The permanent research and teaching laboratories are located in the School of Psychology, University of Queensland. The mobile research laboratory is variously set up in hospitals or at local primary and secondary schools.

The psychophysiological laboratories contain state of the art equipment for the collection of peripheral physiological measures such as skin conductance (SC), electrocardiogram (EKG), respiration, and electromyogram (EMG) and of electroencephalograms (EEG). EMG recordings are the preferred method for measuring the startle eyeblink reflex. EEG recordings are used to derive event related potentials (ERP). The laboratories contain Biopac or Neuroscan amplifiers and data acquisition is facilitated by propriety and custom written software running on IBM compatible computers. The cognitive laboratory is equipped with IBM compatible computers to run learning and attention tasks. The equipment allows the collection of reaction times and subjective ratings. The laboratories are provided with excellent programming and computer support from the School's IT staff and with electronics support from the School's workshop.