A Pilot Study of the Feasibility of In-Ear EEG for Long-Term Temporal Lobe Brain Wave Monitoring.

Abstract

Background: Traditional scalp electroencephalography (EEG), though clinically validated, presents significant limitations, including lengthy setup, patient discomfort, and limited mobility. These factors hinder its utility for long-term ambulatory monitoring. In-ear EEG offers a promising alternative by leveraging the ear canal's anatomical proximity to the temporal lobes and natural mechanical stability. To address this, we developed SeizEAR, a standardized, three-size in-ear EEG system using paste-based electrodes with cross-ear referencing. Methods: This pilot study evaluated SeizEAR devices featuring small, medium, and large earpieces with superior and inferior paste-based electrodes in each ear, configured in a cross-ear reference scheme. It included five healthy adults who underwent recording sessions of approximately three hours (2.4 to 3.3 h). Electrode impedance was monitored against the acquisition system's threshold indicator, with simultaneous scalp EEG from T7/T8 electrodes serving as the reference. Participants rated comfort on a 0-5 Likert scale every 30 min. Results: In-ear recordings showed moderate, band-dependent correspondence with ipsilateral temporal scalp electrodes, strongest in the delta and alpha bands and weakest in beta, and correspondence was consistently higher against a geometrically matched T7-T8 bipolar derivation than against a single referenced electrode. In-ear alpha reactivity to eye closure was present but attenuated relative to scalp. Comfort ratings remained high over the final two hours of wear, with no reported adverse events. Conclusions: SeizEAR acquired in-ear EEG that corresponded moderately with temporal scalp EEG and was well-tolerated over multi-hour wear in healthy adults. These preliminary findings support further development of a standardized in-ear EEG system and require confirmation in an adequately powered sample.