Equipment & Best Practices
Equipment
MOOG 6-DOF motion base platform (Series 6DOF2000E)
PAYLOAD WEIGHT: 1,000 kg
Electric actuated motors
C-EDT eye tracker (Chronos Vision)
Head mounted up to 400Hz 3D binocular eye tracking with IMU for head tracking
16 channel ADC board
4 channel DAC board (eye position outputs)
Oculus Head Mounted Displays:
1 Development Kit
3 CV1 Oculus Rifts (tethered)
3 Oculus Quest 1’s (untethered)
VPixx Technologies:
DATAPixx I/0 device: https://vpixx.com/products/datapixx/
ProPixx Projector: https://vpixx.com/products/propixx/
The lab also uses Windows and Apple OS desktop and laptop computers.
One Macbook can be viewed through a circular tube that eliminates frame orientation cues
Neuroconn DC Stimulator Plus fMRI compatible tDCS/GVS: https://www.neurocaregroup.com/technology/dc-stimulator-plus
We have access to force plates, EEG, EMG, TMS, MRI/fMRI/MRS (York University), and other wearable biosensors such as those available from Shimmer: https://shimmersensing.com/wearable-sensor-products/
Rules and Practices
Office Hours:
There are no fixed office hours in the lab. Choose your work times to maximize your productivity, while ensuring your work hours overlap with your supervisor's availability.
CCCARE Hours:
CCCARE is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
After-hours Data Collection:
For data collection outside of regular hours, always have at least two people present.
Communication:
Maintain frequent communication with your supervisor and inform them about any absences due to sickness, vacations, conferences, etc.
Work-life Balance:
Prioritize a healthy work-life balance and ensure you get enough exercise.
Lab Environment:
Please maintain a scent-free environment in the lab. There is no official dress code, but dress respectfully.
Scientific Integrity:
Honesty and scientific integrity are expected. If you make a mistake, communicate with your supervisor to find a solution. We strive to maintain vigilance and rigour in our work:
Vigilance refers to the alertness and attentiveness of a researcher in observing and monitoring their work, maintaining a watchful eye for potential errors, biases, and inaccuracies that could compromise the validity and reliability of their findings. Vigilance involves actively questioning assumptions, considering alternative explanations, and being open to revising one's conclusions based on new evidence. It emphasizes the need for researchers to be mindful of the potential pitfalls and limitations in their work and to continuously seek improvement in their understanding.
Rigour, on the other hand, refers to the strictness and thoroughness with which scientific research is conducted. It involves following established protocols, guidelines, and best practices in the design, execution, and analysis of experiments, as well as in the interpretation and reporting of results. Rigour ensures that research is methodologically sound, transparent, and replicable, and that the conclusions drawn from it are well-supported by the evidence. It emphasizes the importance of precision, accuracy, and robustness in scientific investigations.
Harassment and Discrimination:
No form of harassment or discrimination will be tolerated. If you have any concerns, seek help from university resources.
Lab Citizenship:
Actively engage and participate in lab and department activities.
Equipment Handling:
Handle all equipment with care, and read equipment manuals before starting a project.
Experiment Approval:
Only conduct experiments with your supervisor's explicit approval.
Lab Cleanliness:
Leave the lab clean and in order after each experimental session.
Lab Supplies:
Ensure adequate lab supplies are available and notify your supervisor when running low.
Food and Beverages:
Avoid handling food or beverages around lab equipment, with the exception of computers.
Research Practices:
Write an abstract before starting a project, pre-register studies, secure ethics approval, and adhere to ethical and research standards.
Data Management:
Back up your data frequently, communicate with peers, and collaborate with colleagues and experts.
Data Organization:
Keep detailed lab notes and maintain organized folders for each project or experiment.
Paper Writing:
Follow best practices for paper writing, including open science principles. We use the Open Science Framework to register, document and disseminate our work.
Conference Attendance:
Aim to attend at least one conference per year, presenting new material. Manage conference costs responsibly and make the most of the learning experience.
