Advances to Brain-Interface Technology Provide Clearer Insight Into Visual System Than Ever Before
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) have developed a high-density electroencephalogram (EEG) that can quantify the brain's neural activity at a higher spatial resolution than was previously possible. The researchers say the "super-Nyquist density" EEG represents the first non-invasive, high-resolution brain-interface technology of its type. It was tested by having 16 participants watch pattern-reversing black and white checkerboards while wearing the new device. According to the results, the interface collected more information from the visual cortex than any of the four standard "Nyquist density" versions tested. The new tool is composed of a modified EEG head cap connected to a 128-electrolode system, which expanded sensor density by two- to threefold over occipitotemporal brain regions.
"Ultimately, capturing more neural information with EEG means we can make better inferences about what is happening inside the brain. (...) This has the potential to improve source detection, for example in localizing the source of seizures in epilepsy." - Amanda K. Robinson, former CMU researcher
