Emerging Brain Technology – Mobile Electroencephalography

The present advent of wearable and portable neuroimaging and neurostimulation technologies has triggered a proliferation of research on brain augmentation and recording in patients with psychiatric or neurological problems as well as healthy adults. Mobile Electroencephalography (EEG) is among the most well-known neuroimaging techniques that studies real-time brain activities. It is not just quickly developing in neuroscience research but also a technology that attracts substantial investment and attention. Mobile EEG is relatively inexpensive and is likely to open an unprecedented possibility of studying neurodevelopmental disorders (Lau-Zau et al., 2019). Furthermore, it is also non-invasive and portable.

However, this device raises certain ethical concerns like most other portable, cloud-enabled neuroimaging technologies. For instance, issues related to privacy, informed consent, the ability to accurately communicate neuroimaging results to remote participants, the probable bias of interpretive algorithms in various populations, and extensive dependence on cloud-based artificial intelligence are among the key ethical issues raised by such technologies (Shen et al., 2020). Furthermore, the safety of mobile EEG is highly questioned since researchers believe that non-invasive devices are likely to pose serious harm to individuals, and there is also fear of unknown possible reversibility of any side effects upon the removal of the wearable device (Lopez et al., 2020). However, there have been inconclusive results regarding this area.

According to Lau-Zhu et al. (2019), EEG technologies have marked the historical beginning of human neuroscience research for studying brain activity and are currently one of the most flexible and accessible tools used to study the brain in real time. Mobile EEG systems have the potential to unravel the mechanism and etiology of psychopathology across one’s lifespan. The authors believe that the advent of such technologies in examining real-world behaviors is exciting, but there is a need for careful design to ensure neurodevelopmental relevance and signal quality (Lau-Zhu et al., 2019). Shen et al. (2020) believe in the great possibilities that portable neuro-imaging technologies can bring to the field of psychology. However, their main concern is in the social, legal, and ethical concerns that such technologies can bring, given that they are relatively new in the market. The need to assess risks and benefits before using technologies like mobile EEG is highlighted. The same ethical concerns have been shared by Lopez et al. (2020), particularly in regard to safety, privacy, and data protection. However, Lopez et al. (2020) believe that mobile EEG advantages far outweigh the disadvantages and that this technology can be used in self-regulation, which is important for emotional balance and well-being, particularly in mindfulness meditation. Therefore, mobile EEG can be highly useful for sleep, focus, and meditation.

In my opinion, the future of mobile EEG, like most other portable neuroimaging technologies, is bright. As with most other technologies, mobile EEG is not without shortcomings. However, with the improvement of such shortcomings, mobile EEG can greatly inform and expand the field of behavioral health field. For instance, in education, the device can be used to track the performance of students and enhance the learning experience. The application of such neural technologies can provide feedback on students’ mental levels and estimate their visual and cognitive attention during classroom activities, thereby enhancing learning effectiveness. Therefore, working to eliminate some of the ethical issues related to the use of mobile EEG can truly help the field of science in general.

References

Lau-Zhu, A., Lau, M. P., & McLoughlin, G. (2019). Mobile EEG in research on neurodevelopmental disorders: Opportunities and challenges. Developmental cognitive neuroscience, 36, 100635.

Lopez, C. A. F., Li, G., & Zhang, D. (2020). Beyond Technologies of Electroencephalography-Based Brain-Computer Interfaces: A Systematic Review From Commercial and Ethical Aspects. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14.

Shen, F. X., Wolf, S. M., Gonzalez, R. G., & Garwood, M. (2020). Ethical Issues Posed by Field Research Using Highly Portable and Cloud-Enabled Neuroimaging. Neuron, 105(5), 771-775.

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