Arguments to choose EEG devices with 32 channels or more for scientific studies

Last Updated on December 17, 2023 by pg@petergamma.org

Although we are interested since several years in EEG devices we do not know of major scientific studies which stroke us which where performed with EEG devices with less than 32 channels.

1.

An exception is the Unicorn Black by g.tec medical which was tested by Robert Oostenveld on his blog but also offers a validation paper:

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=de&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Validation+of+the+g.+tec+Unicorn+Hybrid+Black+wireless+EEG+system&btnG=

• The Unicorn Black has 8 EEG channels which is little for our own specialized application.

2.

Another exception is a validation paper which validates an OpenBCI 16 channel EEG headset for neurophysiological research.

• The study was done by researchers from Columbia in South America:

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=de&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=A+Novel+OpenBCI+Framework+for+EEG-Based+Neurophysiological+Experiments+&btnG=

3.

One of the most interesting papers for us personally was a paper from Indonesian scientists who received a research grant from it from the Indonesian government do develop a 32 channel EEG headset:

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=de&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Development+of+electroencephalography+%28EEG%29+data+acquisition+system+based+on+FPGA+PYNQ&btnG=

4.

Another device which is interesting for us personally is the g.tec medical multi-purpose device with 32 channels.

• Is it by coincidence that that g.tec who is in the business with EEG devices for about 20 years offers a 32 channel device which was one of the devices which stroke us the most? By coincidence? This is hard to believe.

5.

Devices from mBrainTrain start from 24 channels if we remember correctly but where updated recently to 32 and 64 channels.

6.

Papers which we remember and found which stroke us where papers with EEG devices which offer 32 channel or more.

7.

Lack of a lot of citations for papers with EEG devices with 32 channels or less

Although we listed here a view papers in which the devices we mentioned are used in, papers after first look had on the average about 5 citations, and none of these papers seem to be a paper which is cited a lot.