USC AMPL
Terms and Conditions & Privacy Policy
Effective Date: April 19, 2026
Issued by: University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory

This document sets forth the Terms and Conditions ("Terms") and Privacy Policy ("Policy") governing your access to and use of USC AMPL (the "Application"), a research-grade EEG data analysis tool developed by University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory. By accessing or using this Application, you agree to be bound by these Terms and the Policy below.
This Application is currently intended for internal research and clinical use only and is NOT available to the general public. Access is restricted to authorized researchers, lab personnel, and study participants who have been expressly granted access by University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory.


PART I — TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Application, you represent that you are an authorized user who has received explicit permission from University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory to use this Application. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately discontinue use of the Application.
2. Eligibility and Authorized Use
Access to this Application is limited to:
•	Researchers and lab personnel who are affiliated with University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory or a formally approved collaborating institution
•	Study participants who have been enrolled in a formally approved research protocol and provided informed consent where required
•	Any other individuals expressly authorized in writing by University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory
Authorized users may use the Application solely for the research or clinical purposes for which they were granted access. Any other use is prohibited.
3. Prohibited Activities
You agree NOT to:
•	Share your access credentials with any unauthorized party
•	Use the Application for any commercial purpose without written authorization from University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory
•	Attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, or modify any part of the Application
•	Transmit, distribute, or disclose any data collected through the Application outside of approved research channels
•	Use the Application in any manner that violates applicable federal, state, or local laws, including HIPAA and applicable IRB protocols
•	Attempt to re-identify any de-identified data
4. Intellectual Property
The Application, including all software, algorithms, interfaces, documentation, and associated materials, is the proprietary property of University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory. Nothing in these Terms grants you any ownership interest in the Application. All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.
EEG data collected through approved research protocols may be subject to additional intellectual property and data ownership terms defined by the applicable research agreement or IRB protocol.
5. Disclaimers
THE APPLICATION IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA APPLIED MOVEMENT & PAIN LABORATORY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
This Application is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. All data outputs are for research purposes only and should not be used as the basis for clinical decision-making without independent professional evaluation.
6. Limitation of Liability
University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of or inability to use the Application, even if University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory has been advised of the possibility of such damages. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory's total liability shall not exceed the amount paid (if any) by the authorized user for access to the Application in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.
7. Research Compliance
All use of this Application in connection with human subjects research must comply with:
•	All applicable federal regulations governing human subjects research (45 CFR Part 46, 21 CFR Part 50/56 where applicable)
•	Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals and conditions applicable to the relevant research protocol
•	The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and associated regulations, where applicable
•	Any applicable institutional policies of University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory or a collaborating institution
Users are solely responsible for ensuring their use of the Application complies with all applicable regulatory and institutional requirements.
8. Device and Equipment
This Application is designed for use with Muse EEG headband devices. University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory makes no warranty regarding the accuracy, reliability, or fitness of any third-party hardware used in connection with the Application. Users are responsible for ensuring devices are properly calibrated, maintained, and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
9. Modification and Termination
University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Application or these Terms at any time, with or without notice. Continued use following any modification constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory may terminate or suspend any user's access at any time for any reason, including violation of these Terms.
10. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the state in which University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory is domiciled, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be resolved in the appropriate courts of that jurisdiction.
11. Contact
For questions regarding these Terms, please contact: chen.alex@pt.usc.edu


PART II — PRIVACY POLICY
This Privacy Policy describes how University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory ("we," "us," or "our") collects, processes, stores, and protects information in connection with your use of USC AMPL. We are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all users and study participants.
1. Scope
This Policy applies to all users of the Application, including researchers, lab personnel, and study participants. It applies to all EEG data, usage data, and any other information collected through or in connection with the Application.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 EEG Data
The Application collects raw and processed EEG data from Muse EEG headband devices. This neurophysiological data is collected during research sessions conducted at home or in a supervised lab setting. All EEG data is de-identified prior to storage — it is not linked to any information that directly identifies a specific individual (such as name, date of birth, or medical record number).
2.2 Session and Usage Data
We may collect metadata related to your use of the Application, including session timestamps, device identifiers, and application performance logs. This information is used solely for quality assurance, debugging, and research integrity purposes.
2.3 Information You Provide
You may be asked to provide non-identifying information relevant to the research protocol (e.g., session ID, participant code, or task condition). This information is collected and stored consistent with the applicable IRB-approved research protocol.
3. How We Use Information
Information collected through the Application is used solely for:
•	Conducting approved neuroscience research
•	Quality assurance and validation of EEG data
•	Improving the technical performance and reliability of the Application
•	Compliance with applicable research, legal, and regulatory obligations
We do not use any data collected through the Application for advertising, marketing, or any commercial purpose without your explicit written consent.
4. Data Storage and Security
4.1 Storage Infrastructure
All data collected through the Application is stored in Dropbox, using a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA)-compliant Dropbox for Business account. This ensures that data is encrypted both in transit and at rest using industry-standard encryption protocols.
4.2 Access Controls
Access to stored data is restricted to authorized personnel with a legitimate research need. Access credentials are individually assigned and must not be shared. University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory maintains access logs and periodically reviews access privileges.
4.3 Security Practices
We employ reasonable and appropriate technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no system is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
5. De-Identification
All EEG and associated research data stored or processed through the Application is de-identified in accordance with applicable standards (including HIPAA Safe Harbor or Expert Determination methods, where applicable). We do not store direct identifiers (e.g., name, SSN, date of birth, address) in connection with EEG data. Users and participants are identified by a randomly assigned participant code.
Authorized users are prohibited from attempting to re-identify de-identified data. Any suspected re-identification must be reported immediately to chen.alex@pt.usc.edu.
6. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or trade any data collected through the Application. We may disclose data:
•	To authorized collaborators under a formal data sharing or research collaboration agreement
•	As required by applicable law, court order, or regulatory requirement
•	To protect the rights, property, or safety of University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory, its personnel, or others
•	In de-identified or aggregated form for research publications, presentations, or reports
Any data sharing with external parties will be subject to data use agreements and appropriate safeguards consistent with the applicable research protocol.
7. Data Retention
Data is retained for the duration necessary to fulfill the research objectives and comply with applicable regulations, institutional policies, and grant requirements. Upon conclusion of the retention period, data will be securely deleted or further de-identified in accordance with applicable standards.
8. Your Rights as a Participant
If you are a study participant, your rights with respect to your personal data are governed primarily by the informed consent process and the IRB-approved research protocol for your study. Depending on applicable law, you may have the right to:
•	Access information about what data has been collected about you
•	Request correction of inaccurate information
•	Withdraw from the study (subject to the terms of your informed consent agreement)
To exercise any of these rights, please contact your study coordinator or chen.alex@pt.usc.edu.
9. HIPAA Compliance
To the extent that the Application is used in connection with Protected Health Information (PHI) as defined by HIPAA, University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory will comply with all applicable HIPAA requirements. Our use of Dropbox for Business under a BAA supports compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule's administrative, physical, and technical safeguard requirements.
As noted above, the Application is designed to work with de-identified data. Any incidental collection of PHI will be handled in strict accordance with applicable HIPAA provisions and the relevant IRB protocol.
10. Cookies and Tracking
The Application does not use third-party advertising cookies or behavioral tracking technologies. Limited functional data (e.g., session tokens) may be used solely to support Application functionality.
11. Children's Privacy
The Application is not intended for individuals under the age of 18 unless they are enrolled as study participants under a protocol that includes appropriate parental/guardian consent procedures in compliance with applicable law and IRB requirements.
12. Future Changes to Scope
If the Application is made available to the general public in the future, this Privacy Policy will be updated prior to such release to reflect any additional data practices, user rights, or regulatory obligations applicable to a consumer-facing product. Users and participants will be notified of material changes to this Policy.
13. Changes to This Policy
University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. The revised Policy will be effective as of the updated Effective Date noted at the top of this document. Continued use of the Application following any update constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.
14. Contact Us
For any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, please contact:
University of Southern California Applied Movement & Pain Laboratory
Email: chen.alex@pt.usc.edu

Last Updated: April 19, 2026
This document does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a licensed attorney to ensure these documents meet all applicable legal requirements for your specific context.