One hundred years after the human brain's electrical activity was first recorded, experts are celebrating the legacy of that discovery and sharing predictions and priorities for its future.
Since it was first recorded in July 1924, the human electroencephalogram (EEG) has become essential in understanding brain function and dysfunction, most importantly in the clinical diagnosis of epilepsy, where analysis of EEG signals quickly redefined conditions previously considered personality disorders as disorders of brain activity.
A century later, over 500 experts from around the world are being asked to reflect on the impact of this groundbreaking methodology, as well as the challenges and priorities for the future.
The survey, led by researchers at the University of Leeds, asked respondents with a combined 6,685 years of experience to present potential future developments in EEG from “essential for progress” to “highly unlikely” and estimate how long it would take for them to come to fruition. The results were published today (August 22, 2024) in the journal Nature Human Behavior.
Future Innovation
The list is full of fascinating, futuristic innovations that experts believe could be realized within a generation, including the use of brainwaves to enhance cognitive abilities, early detection of learning disabilities, widespread use as a lie detector, and as a primary communication tool for patients with severe movement disorders and locked-in syndrome.
The ability to reliably diagnose brain abnormalities like seizures or tumors in real time is thought to be just 10 to 14 years away, while the possibility of reading dreams or long-term memories is put at 50 years or more by some experts, but dismissed by many as more science fiction than reality.
It may come as a surprise to many that within a generation, we may all be carrying our own portable electroencephalographs, according to a study published today (August 22) in the journal Nature Human Behavior.
“These really could become like smartphones – accessible to almost everyone, usable every day and ideally improving people's lives by providing meaningful insights into physiological factors,” said Dominic Welke, co-author of the paper and research fellow at the University of Leeds.
One promising future application of EEG technology is driver or pilot vigilance management. These work safety systems can help identify if the user is falling asleep and wake them up or tell the co-pilot to take over.”
Dominic Welke, Research Fellow, University of Leeds
The hardware involved in recording an EEG is relatively basic and has remained unchanged in principle since it was first used by German psychiatrist Hans Berger on 6 July 1924. What has changed dramatically since then is the analysis of the data that is now digitally recorded and what can be done with it.
Consisting only of electrodes and amplifiers, EEG systems are becoming increasingly cheaper to manufacture, more portable and more user-friendly. Combined with their non-invasive nature, there is little to prevent them becoming more accessible to a wider range of users.
Reducing health disparities
The prospect of EEG technology becoming widely used in gaming and VR will be exciting for gamers, as that prospect is only about 20 years away. But the really exciting possibility for scientists and clinicians is that this increased accessibility will enable them to engage with communities traditionally excluded from EEG research, particularly those in lower-income countries that can’t afford the more complex imaging technology.
Advances in AI-powered automation are also expected to improve and speed up the analysis of complex data.
Dr Welke said: “Looking to the future, with the hardware side being relatively cheap and easy to manufacture, and with these new computing technologies on the analytics and software side, we have all the pieces of the puzzle to really roll out EEG to a very large user base.”
“In contrast to other methods such as MRI or implantable devices, EEG has the potential to make neuroimaging accessible to everyone around the world.”
“Almost all the data we currently have on the human brain comes from a tiny fraction of the world's population,” said lead author Faisal Mustaq, professor of cognitive science and director of the Centre for Immersive Technologies at the University of Leeds.
“There is a growing recognition that this is hindering our ability to generalize research findings and improve brain health globally.”
“EEG stands out as the most cost-effective and logistically feasible neuroimaging tool that can be used in a variety of settings around the world. This helps build neuroscience that is inclusive and representative of populations around the world.”
“In this way, our partners in the Global Brain Consortium are laying the foundations for expanding the scope of their research, which we hope will open up new opportunities for groundbreaking discoveries about the mechanisms of brain function,” he added.
Ethical issues
Alongside optimism that emerging technologies are bringing exciting new possibilities for EEG, the experts consulted also expressed concerns and warnings ranging from a lack of adherence to agreed standards and protocols, to ethical questions raised by new commercial applications and the appeal of “neuroenhancement”.
Dr Welke said: “Some multinational technology companies may be very interested in deploying EEG and other neuroimaging techniques to gain more 24-hour insight into their users' preferences and emotions, but should the technology be used in this way?”
“There are obvious concerns about cognitive freedom and mental privacy, which is reflected in the importance of 'responsibility' – that new ways of using technology may also raise new ethical questions.”
Another aim of the survey was to identify EEG community priorities to guide future efforts: participants rated how important major developments and advances in different areas of EEG research are to their work.
“EEG, combined with technologies such as AI and virtual reality, has the potential to fundamentally change the way we interact with machines and therefore play a pivotal role in science and society over the next 100 years,” Professor Mustaq said.
“But to ensure this, the academic, clinical and industrial neuroscience communities must be committed to promoting robust, ethical, inclusive and sustainable practices that will help realize its enormous potential.”
The study was conducted by more than 90 authors, collectively known as the EEG100 Consortium, ranging from early career researchers to luminaries in the field.
It began as a partnership between #EEGManyLabs, an international network of researchers from over 30 countries assessing the reproducibility of results from the most important and influential EEG experiments on psychological phenomena, and the Global Brain Consortium, a diverse network of brain researchers, clinicians and institutions working to improve health outcomes and achieve equity around the world.
“We have demonstrated in several countries, including Cuba, that EEG allows for large-scale screening of some nervous system diseases at a population level,” said Pedro Antonio Valdés Sosa, the paper's last author and director of the Sino-Cuban Neurotechnology Institute at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China/Cuba Neuroscience Center.
“This technology is particularly suited to situations where resources are limited, such as isolated groups around the world.
“There are hurdles to overcome before EEG can be deployed on a global scale, but we hope that doing so will improve the lives of millions of people.”
Dr Sadhana Sharma, Bioscience Health Strategy Lead at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), which funded the paper's lead author, said: “EEG technology has the potential to transform our everyday activities and how we may in future diagnose and treat neurological diseases, making insights into brain health accessible to a wider range of people around the world.”
“While we embrace developments in the biosciences, our focus remains on fostering interdisciplinary collaborations that advance ethical, equitable and impactful advances in brain science globally.”
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Journal References:
Mushtaq, F., et al. (2024). 100 years of EEG in brain and behavior research. Nature Human Behaviour. doi.org/10.1038/s41562-024-01941-5.
