These Temporary Electronic Tattoos Can Monitor Brain Activity
Traditional non-invasive brain imaging methods involve electrodes, sticky gels, and wires, which can be uncomfortable, unsightly, and time-consuming. However, scientists have recently developed a promising alternative in the form of temporary electronic tattoos.
E-Tattoos: A More Comfortable and Accurate Alternative
These e-tattoos use liquid ink applied to the scalp. In a recent study, they proved to be just as accurate as conventional electroencephalography (EEG) techniques, while offering easier setup. They also have the advantage of working through short hair.
The team from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) believes their innovation could improve patient monitoring and disease diagnosis. “Our innovations in sensor design, biocompatible ink, and high-speed printing pave the way for future on-body manufacturing of electronic tattoo sensors, with applications in clinical and non-clinical settings,” says electrical engineer Nanshu Lu from the University of Texas.
The researchers assert that their method is more comfortable for the subject, provides longer-lasting results without signal degradation, and offers greater accuracy. The e-tattoos are made from conductive polymers and are directly applied to the head using a custom inkjet printer.
Measuring Brain Activity with E-Tattoos
Originally used to monitor muscle fatigue and heart rate, these tattoos have now been shown to also measure brain activity, with specialized algorithms determining the optimal placement on the scalp.
Further improvements have been made by replacing part of the wiring in a typical EEG with the printed e-ink. The team used shorter conventional wires to transmit data back to a recording device, ensuring no interference from additional signals.
“This adjustment allowed the printed wires to transmit signals without introducing noise,” explains materials scientist Ximin He from UCLA.
Although they have made progress, the researchers aim to embed wireless transmission capabilities into the e-tattoos and adapt their technology to accommodate a wider variety of hair types and styles.
E-Tattoos: The Future of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)
Eventually, these e-tattoos could form the foundation of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which not only read brain activity but potentially interpret it to trigger actions. Current BCI setups are bulky and challenging to use. Replacing them with e-tattoos could make this technology more accessible to a broader population.
“Our study could potentially transform the design of non-invasive brain-computer interface devices,” says neuroengineer José Millán from the University of Texas at Austin.
Read the original article on: Science Alert
