Hook Fabric Electroencephalography Electrode for Brain Activity Measurement without Shaving the Head

Abstract

In this research, novel electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes were developed to detect high-quality EEG signals without the requirement of conductive gels, skin treatments, or head shaving. These electrodes were created using electrically conductive hook fabric with a resistance of 1 Ω/sq. The pointed hooks of the conductive fabric establish direct contact with the skin and can penetrate through hair. To ensure excellent contact between the hook fabric electrode and the scalp, a knitted-net EEG bridge cap with a bridging effect was employed. The results showed that the hook fabric electrode exhibited lower skin-to-electrode impedance compared to the dry Ag/AgCl comb electrode. Additionally, it collected high-quality signals on par with the standard wet gold cups and commercial dry Ag/AgCl comb electrodes. Moreover, the hook fabric electrode displayed a higher signal-to-noise ratio (33.6 dB) with a 4.2% advantage over the standard wet gold cup electrode. This innovative electrode design eliminates the need for conductive gel and head shaving, offering enhanced flexibility and lightweight characteristics, making it ideal for integration into textile structures and facilitating convenient long-term monitoring.