Assessing a novel polymer-wick based electrode for EEG neurophysiological research.
The EEG technique has decades of valid applications in clinical and experimental neurophysiology. EEG equipment and data analysis methods have been characterized by remarkable developments, but the skin-to-electrode signal transfer remains a challenge for EEG recording.



A novel quasi-dry system - the polymer wick-based electrode - was developed to overcome the limitations of conventional dry and wet silver/silver-chloride (Ag/AgCl) electrodes for EEG recording.



Nine participants completed an auditory oddball protocol with simultaneous EEG acquisition using both the conventional Ag/AgCl and the wick electrodes. Wick system successfully recorded the expected P300 modulation.



Standard ERP analysis, residual random noise analysis, and single-trial analysis of the P300 wave were performed in order to compare signal acquired by both electrodes. It was found that the novel wick electrode performed similarly to the conventional Ag/AgCl electrodes.



The developed wick electrode appears to be a reliable alternative for EEG research, representing a promising halfway alternative between wet and dry electrodes.
University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: ritapasion@gmail.com.
Rita
R
Pasion
University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: tiagopaiva@fpce.up.pt.
Tiago O
TO
Paiva
University of Porto, Faculty of Engeneering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; University of Coimbra, CEMUC-Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: paulomat35253@gmail.com.
Paulo
P
Pedrosa
University of Porto, Faculty of Engeneering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: hugo.da.silva.gaspar@gmail.com.
Hugo
H
Gaspar
University of Porto, Faculty of Engeneering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: vasconcelos.beatriz@gmail.com.
Beatriz
B
Vasconcelos
University of Porto, Faculty of Engeneering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; University of Coimbra, CEMUC-Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal.
Ana C
AC
Martins
University of Porto, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: hamaral.ffup@gmail.com.
Maria H
MH
Amaral
University of Minho, Institute for Polymers and Composites/I3N, Campus of Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal. Electronic address: mnobrega@dep.uminho.pt.
João M
JM
Nóbrega
REQUIMTE-Associated Laboratory for the Green Chemistry, GABAI-Biochemical, Environmental and Industrial Analysis Group, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: rnpascoa@ff.up.pt.
Ricardo
R
Páscoa
University of Porto, Faculty of Engeneering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; University of Coimbra, CEMUC-Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: cfonseca@fe.up.pt.
Carlos
C
Fonseca
University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: fbarbosa@fpce.up.pt.
Fernando
F
Barbosa
D000328:Adult; D016477:Artifacts; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D004566:Electrodes; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011108:Polymers; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D011108:Polymers
ERP; Electrodes; Electroencephalography; Polymer-wick; Quasi-dry; Validation