Assessing focus through ear-EEG: a comparative study between conventional cap EEG and mobile in- and around-the-ear EEG systems.

Introduction: As our attention is becoming a commodity that an ever-increasing number of applications are competing for, investing in modern day tools and devices that can detect our mental states and protect them from outside interruptions holds great value. Mental fatigue and distractions are impacting our ability to focus and can cause workplace injuries. Electroencephalography (EEG) may reflect concentration, and if EEG equipment became wearable and inconspicuous, innovative brain-computer interfaces (BCI) could be developed to monitor mental load in daily life situations.

Custom-Fitted In- and Around-the-Ear Sensors for Unobtrusive and On-the-Go EEG Acquisitions: Development and Validation.

Objectives: This paper aims to validate the performance and physical design of a wearable, unobtrusive ear-centered electroencephalography (EEG) device, dubbed "EARtrodes", using early and late auditory evoked responses. Results would also offer a proof-of-concept for the device to be used as a concealed brain-computer interface (BCI).

Design: The device is composed of a custom-fitted earpiece and an ergonomic behind-the-ear piece with embedded electrodes made of a soft and flexible combination of silicone rubber and carbon fibers.

Validation and Benchmarking of a Wearable EEG Acquisition Platform for Real-World Applications.

This paper presents the experimental validation of a readout circuit for the acquisition, amplification, and transmission of extremely weak biopotentials with a focus on electroencephalography (EEG) signals. The device, dubbed CochlEEG, benefits from a low-power design for long-term power autonomy and provides configurable gain and sampling rates to suit the needs of various EEG applications. CochlEEG features high sampling rates, up to 4 kHz, low-noise signal acquisitions, support for active electrodes, and a potential for Wi-Fi data transmission.