Validation of a Dry Electrode System for EEG

Abstract

Electroencephalography (EEG) has been used for over 80 years to monitor brain activity. The basic technology of using electrodes placed on the scalp with conductive gel or paste (“wet electrodes”) has not fundamentally changed in that time. An electrode system that does not require conductive gel and skin preparation represents a major advancement in this technology and could significantly increase the utility of such a system for many human factors applications. QUASAR, Inc. (San Diego, CA) has developed a prototype dry electrode system for EEG that may well deliver on the promises of dry electrode technology; before any such system could gain widespread acceptance, it is essential to directly compare their system with conventional wet electrodes. An independent validation of dry vs. wet electrodes was conducted; in general, the results confirm that the data collected by the new system is comparable to conventional wet technology.