Load Wearable Sensing Data#

MNELAB can open EDF files exported from DSI-Streamer, making it easy to analyze recordings from DSI-7, DSI-24, DSI-VR300, and DSI-Flex headsets.

Exporting EDF from DSI-Streamer#

Before using MNELAB, export your data from DSI-Streamer:

  1. Open your recording in DSI-Streamer

  2. Navigate to the Record tab

  3. Select the EDF raw format checkbox

  4. Under Export Files header, Click Export

  5. Save your file (e.g., recording.edf) to the desired location using the file dialog window

EDF vs CSV

MNELAB works best with EDF files, which preserve metadata like channel names, sampling rates, and sensor information. While CSV files can be imported into MNE-Python programmatically, EDF is the recommended format for GUI-based workflows.

Opening Files in MNELAB#

Once you’ve exported an EDF file:

  1. Launch MNELAB from your applications menu

  2. Click the “Open” icon in the toolbar, or select File → Open

  3. Browse to your EDF file and click Open

The file will load, and the sidebar will display the dataset name while the main panel shows metadata about the recording, including:

  • Number of channels

  • Sampling rate

  • Recording duration

  • Channel types

  • Annotations (if any)

  • Montage information

Data Selection & Cropping#

Cropping Time Range#

To work with a specific time segment:

  1. Edit → Crop data

  2. Enter Start time and Stop time (in seconds)

  3. Click OK

A new cropped dataset will be created in the sidebar.

Picking Channels by Type#

To select specific channel types:

  1. Edit → Pick channels

  2. Choose selection method:

    • By type: Select EEG, MEG, EOG, etc.

    • By name: Manually select individual channels

  3. Choose whether to create new dataset or overwrite

  4. Click OK

Working with Multiple Datasets

MNELAB preserves your analysis history by creating new datasets for each processing step. Use the sidebar to switch between versions and compare results.

Viewing Your Data#

To visualize the time-series data:

  1. Select Plot → Plot data from the menu

  2. A new window will open showing all channels over time

  3. Use your mouse to:

    • Scroll: Navigate through time

    • Zoom: Adjust the time scale

    • Select channels: Click channel names to highlight

  4. Click the Help button in the plot window for more interaction options, including:

    • Adjusting scaling

    • Toggling channel visibility

    • Measuring time intervals

    • Adding annotations

    • Marking bad segments / channels

Interactive Plotting

MNELAB’s plotting window is fully interactive. You can scroll through the entire recording, adjust scaling, add annotations, and toggle channels on/off for clearer visualization.

Viewing Channel Locations#

To visualize sensor positions:

  1. Plot → Plot channel locations

  2. A 2D topographic view of channel positions appears

  3. Bad channels are highlighted in red

This is useful for:

  • Verifying montage configuration

  • Identifying spatial relationships between channels

  • Planning channel selections for analysis

Expected Channels#

For Wearable Sensing headsets, you should see:

  • DSI-24: Fp1, Fp2, Fz, F3, F4, F7, F8, Cz, C3, C4, T3, T4, T5 (P7), T6 (P8), Pz, P3, P4, O1, O2, A1, A2, X1, X2, X3, Trigger, Event

  • DSI-7: F3, F4, C3, C4, P3, Pz, P4, LE

  • VR300: FCz, Pz, P3, P4, PO7, PO8, Oz, LE

  • VRVEP: FCz, POz, PO3/4, O1/O2, Oz, LE

FIF Files#

In addition to EDF files, MNELAB can read FIF files created from other MNE-Python workflows. See our MNE-Python integration tutorial for more information.

Troubleshooting#

File Won’t Load#

Problem: EDF file fails to open
Solution:

  • Ensure the file was exported from DSI-Streamer (not manually edited)

  • Check that the file extension is .edf (not .EDF or .edf.txt)

  • Try re-exporting from DSI-Streamer

Missing Channels#

Problem: Some channels don’t appear
Solution:

  • Check the info panel to see which channels were loaded

  • Verify the original recording included all expected channels

  • Check DSI-Streamer export settings