# setting up the number of dipoles

**URL:** <https://mne.discourse.group/t/setting-up-the-number-of-dipoles/8211>\
**Category:** Support & Discussions\
**Tags:** source-localization\
**Created:** [January 25, 2024, 2:46am UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/setting-up-the-number-of-dipoles/8211 "2024-01-25T02:46:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![codZeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@codZeus](https://mne.discourse.group/u/codZeus)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 2:46am UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/setting-up-the-number-of-dipoles/8211/1 "2024-01-25T02:46:00Z")

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Hi,

Please is there a way to setup the number of dipoles?

I know the forward operator houses the number the dipoles depending on the hemisphere the user is using.

```python
lh = fwd["src"][0] # Visualize the left hemisphere
verts = lh["rr"] # The vertices of the source space
tris = lh["tris"] # Groups of three vertices that form triangles
dip_pos = lh["rr"][lh["vertno"]] # The position of the dipoles

```

from the link below  
[https://mne.tools/stable/auto\_tutorials/inverse/35\_dipole\_orientations.html#discarding-dipole-orientation-information](https://mne.tools/stable/auto_tutorials/inverse/35_dipole_orientations.html#discarding-dipole-orientation-information)

I want to know if it is possible to manually setup the number of dipoles to the user’s preference.

Explanations and suggestions are all welcome and appreciated.

Thanks

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wmvanvliet](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/mne.discourse.group/wmvanvliet/32/100_2.png) [@wmvanvliet](https://mne.discourse.group/u/wmvanvliet)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 7:21am UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/setting-up-the-number-of-dipoles/8211/2 "2024-01-25T07:21:54Z")

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The process of defining how many dipoles to use and how to place them is referred to in our docs as “setting up the source space”.

[https://mne.tools/stable/auto\_tutorials/forward/30\_forward.html#compute-source-space](https://mne.tools/stable/auto_tutorials/forward/30_forward.html#compute-source-space)

Hopefully searching the docs for the various ways to set up the source space and compute the resulting forward model will tell you what you want to know. If not, feel free to ask questions here.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![codZeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@codZeus](https://mne.discourse.group/u/codZeus)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2024, 4:25pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/setting-up-the-number-of-dipoles/8211/3 "2024-01-25T16:25:22Z")

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okay, i will check that out.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![codZeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@codZeus](https://mne.discourse.group/u/codZeus)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2024, 7:12pm UTC](https://mne.discourse.group/t/setting-up-the-number-of-dipoles/8211/4 "2024-01-29T19:12:18Z")

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That worked well. Thanks