Novel AIRTrode-based wearable electrode supports long-term, online brain-computer interface operations.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Materials Science

Background:

• Non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are vital for motor rehabilitation and assistive technologies.
• Current BCI systems require stable and reliable control for long-term use, which is often limited by electrode performance.
• AIRTrodes, a self-adhesive, injectable, room-temperature hydrogel electrode, offer improved stability and reduced impedance compared to existing dry and wet electrodes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the efficacy of AIRTrodes in facilitating reliable, stable, and long-term online EEG-based BCI operations.
• To evaluate the performance of AIRTrodes in both continuous and discrete BCI control tasks over an extended duration.
• To compare the performance of AIRTrodes with traditional wet gel electrodes for long-term BCI applications.

Main Methods:

• Four healthy participants performed two BCI tasks (continuous motor imagery and discrete error-related potentials) using AIRTrodes.
• AIRTrodes were worn continuously for six hours across two separate sessions.
• EEG signals were recorded and analyzed for BCI performance and signal stability.

Main Results:

• Participants achieved consistently reliable online BCI performance across both sessions and tasks using AIRTrodes.
• Physiological signals (motor imagery and error-related potentials) remained valid and stable throughout the study duration.
• AIRTrode performance was comparable to research-grade wet gel electrodes, without the need for re-application.

Conclusions:

• AIRTrodes show significant potential for integrating non-invasive BCIs into daily life by providing consistent, long-term BCI control.
• This hydrogel electrode technology can enhance the usability and all-day functionality of BCIs in real-world settings.
• AIRTrodes represent a promising advancement for overcoming limitations of current electrode technologies in BCI applications.