Current thinking on brain wave recording turned on its head
12 March 2003
News
James Sinclair, LPS special correspondent
Scientists in the UK have announced the development of a revolutionary non-invasive sensor that can record brainwaves without the need for electrodes to be inserted into the brain or even placed on the scalp. The sensor's scientific novelty stems from the fact that conventional electro-encephalograms (EEGs) monitor electrical activity in the brain with electrodes placed either on the scalp or inserted directly into the brain with needles.
Instead of measuring the charge flow through an electrode, with its attendant distortions, the new system - initiated by Professor Terry Clark's team at Sussex University in the UK - measures electric fields remotely. This is an advance made possible by new developments in sensor technology which he describes as heralding a new age as far as sensing the electrical dynamics of the body is concerned, says Clark. The advantages offered by these sensors compared with the currently used contact electrodes may act to stimulate new developments in multichannel EEG monitoring and in realtime electrical imaging of the brain. By picking up brain signals non-invasively, we could find ourselves controlling machinery with our thoughts alone - a marriage of mind and machine.
Clark light-heartedly likens the discovery to Star Trek's Dr McCoy who simply waves an electronic gadget across the patient's body for an instant diagnosis. Making fact stranger than fiction, the team's super-sensor can monitor a clothed person's heartbeat or brainwaves from a metre away and could mark the start of a revolution in remote medical testing.
Conventional ECGs suffer from weak and distorted signals because the skin contacts drain some of the current. Clark set about developing an alternative system that measures the changing electrical field in the air generated by the shifting voltages on the skin's surface. This prototype remote device is fastened rigidly in front of the seated patient. Potential applications include remote monitoring of burns victims - who cannot be touched - or people trapped in traffic accidents.
The project has received a million pounds sterling funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
For more information contact Professor Terry Clark, [email protected]
Further reading:
Engineering in a world that cannot assume connectivity
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice News
Across industrial automation, networking, and defence systems, engineers are rediscovering the importance of resilience and autonomy in an increasingly connected world.
Read more...
IOT secures major industry partnership
IOT Electronics
News
IOT Electronics has announced a new strategic partnership with Powell Electronics, becoming an Official Authorised Reseller in South Africa.
Read more...
Successful Proteus training conference
Dizzy Enterprises
News
Dizzy Enterprises recently hosted two hands-on Proteus Training Conferences, bringing together electronics professionals, designers, and enthusiasts to explore the latest capabilities of the Proteus Design Suite from Labcenter Electronics.
Read more...
Hitachi reinvents asset management solution
News
Hitachi Energy, in collaboration with Microsoft, is accelerating the digital transformation of essential infrastructure - from electricity networks and transportation corridors to heavy industrial operations - by reinventing how critical assets are managed and maintained.
Read more...
Mycronic releases mixed Q4 results
News
Mycronic reported mixed Q4 results for the year ended January to December 2025, while delivering record full year order intake and net sales.
Read more...
AGOA: Businesses should diversify or face significant exposure
News
Cross-border payments platform Verto has called on South African and African businesses to accelerate their transition toward a “post-AGOA” trade strategy following President Donald Trump’s signing of a one-year extension to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Read more...
European components distribution growing
News
European electronic components distribution returned to growth in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to newly released figures from DMASS Europe.
Read more...
Silicon Labs reports strong growth
News
Silicon Labs has reported robust financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025, with significant YoY revenue gains and shifting market dynamics.
Read more...
Siemens acquires Canopus AI
ASIC Design Services
News
The acquisition extends Siemens’ comprehensive EDA software portfolio with computational metrology and inspection to help chipmakers solve critical technical challenges in semiconductor manufacturing.
Read more...
Micron breaks ground on new wafer fabs
News
Micron Technology has advanced two major semiconductor manufacturing initiatives that together reflect the company’s strategic response to sustained global demand for memory solutions.
Read more...
printer friendly version