""" .. _tut-sensor-locations: ============================= Working with sensor locations ============================= This tutorial describes how to read and plot sensor locations, and how MNE-Python handles physical locations of sensors. As usual we'll start by importing the modules we need: """ # Authors: The MNE-Python contributors. # License: BSD-3-Clause # Copyright the MNE-Python contributors. # %% from pathlib import Path import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import numpy as np import mne # %% # About montages and layouts # ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ # # `Montages ` contain sensor positions in 3D (x, y, z in # meters), which can be assigned to existing EEG/MEG data. By specifying the locations # of sensors relative to the brain, `Montages ` play an # important role in computing the forward solution and inverse estimates. # # In contrast, `Layouts ` are *idealized* 2D representations of # sensor positions. They are primarily used for arranging individual sensor subplots in # a topoplot or for showing the *approximate* relative arrangement of sensors as seen # from above. # # .. note:: # # If you're working with EEG data exclusively, you'll want to use `Montages # `, not layouts. Idealized montages (e.g., those provided # by the manufacturer, or the ones shipping with MNE-Python mentioned below) are # typically referred to as :term:`template montages