Development and testing of portable EEG event-related brain potential capability

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In recent years a number of low-cost, portable electroencephalographic (EEG, or "brain-wave") wearable technologies have come to market increasing the accessibility of brain analysis for scientists, industry, and even commercial products. However, a crucial barrier that remains until these systems are truly accessible is the development of software that allows scientists to easily collect and analyse data from headbands such as the MUSE developed by InteraXon Inc. In other words, while the hardware capability is present currently software is a barrier limiting the use of these mobile EEG technologies. Further, and more exclusive, the ability to collect event-related potential (ERP) data is even more restricted given the technical requirements needed to obtain valid data in this manner. ERP data is key because it allows one to probe the brains response to specific events. Indeed, measuring ERP data allows scientists to study a large range of brain functions such as memory, attention, perception, learning, and decision-making. As such, it is important to develop the software needed to support the capability of low-cost EEG systems such as the MUSE headband for this type of research.The research proposed here will develop this capability for the MUSE EEG headband. As a result of this project, scientists, researchers in industry, and even clinicians will have access to mobile EEG and ERP data that will allow them to study human brain function in a wide range of settings not possible today. Imagine for instance, if the neural assessments needed to diagnose a certain condition could easily come to one's home as opposed to having people have to come to the hospital. With this in mind, the benefit for Canada is limitless - we almost have a capability to brain analysis in any context which will have immediate impact in research, industry, and clinical environments to improve what we know about the human brain and potentially also improve the health of Canadians.