# Questions About EMG Research Applications

**URL:** <https://community.sparkfun.com/t/questions-about-emg-research-applications/61872>\
**Category:** Biometrics\
**Created:** [November 15, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/questions-about-emg-research-applications/61872 "2024-11-15T21:01:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![trippm4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@trippm4](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/trippm4)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/questions-about-emg-research-applications/61872/1 "2024-11-15T21:01:31Z")

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1. What is the detection limit for the EMG? (smallest electrical signal that it can detect?) — is it good enough to detect on a rat?
2. What unit is the output value measured in? We have it hooked up as default.
3. Does arrangement of electrodes matter?
4. Our data shows after initial flexing of the bicep and the signal decreased after, however, upon sequential flexing the signal slowly increased and remained at the relative peak of the initial flexing, is this normal? What could be the cause of this? (attached images)

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 ![EMGBicep](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/original/2X/1/1b4c5fa9b16dd503b926cedda623b05d94725b7f.png)

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**Author:** ![TS-Russell](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/ts-russell/32/6092_2.png) [@TS-Russell](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/TS-Russell)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/questions-about-emg-research-applications/61872/2 "2024-11-15T22:58:49Z")

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1. It depends on the gain setting, sensor placement, etc. Probably not for a rat, tho…you’d need to use smaller eltrodes and space them appropriately along the rat muscle’s body
2. it’s an analog output that corresponds to Vin; see [Getting Started with the MyoWare® 2.0 Muscle Sensor Ecosystem - SparkFun Learn](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/getting-started-with-the-myoware-20-muscle-sensor-ecosystem/all#arduino-example-1-analog-read---single-sensor)
3. Yes, greatly…[Getting Started with the MyoWare® 2.0 Muscle Sensor Ecosystem - SparkFun Learn](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/getting-started-with-the-myoware-20-muscle-sensor-ecosystem/all#hardware-hookup) Orientation, spacing, etc all play a role
4. Are you running ti off battery power? That generally indicates Vin has moved somehow and/or power to the system is fluctuating somehow

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**Author:** ![trippm4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@trippm4](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/trippm4)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/questions-about-emg-research-applications/61872/3 "2024-11-18T20:04:23Z")

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We have it plugged into USB, not on battery, and are getting an ENV signal (I believe), but I haven’t been able to find on the help sheets anywhere about units. Since I have a Mac with no USB ports, only USB-C, it is connected via hub, which could be the issue.

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**Author:** ![TS-Russell](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/sparkfun/user_avatar/community.sparkfun.com/ts-russell/32/6092_2.png) [@TS-Russell](https://community.sparkfun.com/u/TS-Russell)\
**Post date:** [November 18, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.sparkfun.com/t/questions-about-emg-research-applications/61872/4 "2024-11-18T20:24:16Z")

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Volts…it’s an analog voltage reading based on Vin