Can EEG Read Your Dreams? The Future of Brain Activity Measurement as It Turns 100

One hundred years after the electrical activity of the human brain was first recorded, experts celebrate the legacy of its discovery and share their predictions and priorities for its future.

Since the first recording in July 1924, human electroencephalography (EEG) has been an integral part of our understanding of how the brain functions and malfunctions: most notably in the clinical diagnosis of epilepsy, where analysis of the EEG signal has enabled the rapid redefinition of a condition previously considered a personality disorder as a disorder of brain activity.

Now, a century later, more than 500 experts from around the world have been invited to reflect on the impact of this revolutionary methodology, as well as the challenges and priorities for the future.

In a survey conducted by academics at the University of Leeds, people with 6,685 years of collective experience were asked about possible EEG developments, ranging from those deemed “essential for progress” to those deemed “highly unlikely”, and asked to estimate how long it would take before they were achieved. The results are published in the journal Nature Human Behavior.

Futuristic innovations

The list presents a range of fascinating and futuristic innovations that experts believe could be achieved within a generation. This includes the use of EEG to improve cognitive performance, early detection of learning disorders, widespread use as a lie detector, and use as a primary communication tool for people with severe motor disabilities and locked-in syndrome.

It is estimated that it will take only 10 to 14 years to reliably diagnose brain abnormalities such as epileptic seizures or tumors in real time, while some experts believe that the probability of reading the content of dreams and long-term memories is more than 50 years away, but many dismiss it as more science fiction than reality.

It may come as a surprise to many people to learn that, according to research, within a generation we could all be carrying around our own personal, portable EEG.

Dominik Welke, co-author of the study and researcher at the University of Leeds, said: “They could really become a kind of smartphone, which almost everyone could access and use on a daily basis, ideally improving their lives by providing them with useful information about physiological factors.”

He added: “One of the positive and potential uses of EEG technology could be monitoring the alertness of drivers or pilots. These workplace safety systems could help the user identify if they are falling asleep and then wake them up or tell the co-pilot to take over.”

The equipment used for EEG recording is relatively basic and has not changed, in principle, since it was first used by psychiatrist Hans Berger in Germany on July 6, 1924. What has changed radically since then is the analysis of the data now recorded digitally and what we can do with it.

Consisting of only electrodes and an amplifier, EEG systems are becoming increasingly economical to produce, as well as increasingly portable and user-friendly. Combined with their non-invasive nature, there is nothing stopping them from becoming more accessible to a wider audience.

Reducing health inequalities

While the prospect of widespread use of EEG technology in gaming and virtual reality (which is still about 20 years away) will delight gamers, the truly exciting possibility for scientists and clinicians is that this increasing accessibility will allow them to engage with communities traditionally excluded from EEG research, particularly in low-income countries that cannot afford more complex imaging technology.

Advances in AI-based automation are also expected to improve and accelerate the analysis of complex data.

Dr. Welke said: “Looking ahead, from a hardware perspective, it’s relatively inexpensive and easy to produce, and from an analysis and software perspective, with these new computing technologies, all the pieces of the puzzle are in place to really deploy EEG to a very broad user base. Unlike other existing methods, such as MRI or implanted devices, EEG has the potential to make neuroimaging accessible to all people in the world.”

Faisal Mushtaq, lead author of the study and Professor of Cognitive Science and Director of the Centre for Immersive Technologies at the University of Leeds, said: “Almost all of the data we currently have on the human brain comes from a very small segment of the global population. It is increasingly recognised that this hampers our ability to generalise findings and improve global brain health. EEG stands out as the most cost-effective and logistically feasible neuroimaging tool for global use in diverse settings. This would help build neuroscience that is inclusive and representative of the global population.”

He added: “Our partners in the Global Brain Consortium are laying the foundation for expanding reach in this way, and I hope it will open up new opportunities for breakthrough discoveries about how the brain works.”

Ethical questions

Along with optimism that emerging technologies open up exciting new possibilities for EEG, the experts consulted also sounded a note of caution, with concerns ranging from lack of adherence to agreed standards and protocols to ethical questions created by new commercial applications and the lure of “neuro-enhancement.”

Dr Welke said: “I’m sure there are multinational technology companies that would be very interested in deploying EEG or other neuroimaging technologies, just to get more information about their users that could give insights into their preferences and emotions 24 hours a day. But should they be used in this way? There are obvious concerns about cognitive freedom and mental privacy. This goes back to the importance of accountability – the fact that new ways of using a technology are also likely to raise new ethical questions.”

Another objective of the survey was to identify priorities for the EEG community to guide future efforts. Participants rated the importance of major developments and advances in various areas of EEG research to their work.

Professor Mushtaq said: “I believe that EEG, when combined with technologies such as AI and virtual reality, could radically transform the way we interact with machines and, in doing so, play a hugely important role in science and society over the next 100 years.

“But to ensure this, the neuroscience community – whether academic, clinical or industrial – must commit to promoting robust, ethical, inclusive and sustainable practices that will help it realise its enormous potential.”

The work was carried out by more than 90 authors, ranging from early-career researchers to prominent figures in the field, collectively known as the EEG100 consortium.

It all started with a partnership between #EEGManyLabs, an international network of researchers from over 30 countries assessing the reproducibility of results from some of the largest and most influential EEG experiments on psychological phenomena, and the Global Brain Consortium, a diverse network of brain researchers, clinicians, and institutions committed to achieving improved and more equitable health outcomes worldwide.

The study’s last author, Pedro Antonio Valdés-Sosa, director of the China-Cuba Neurotechnology Laboratory at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China/Cuban Center for Neuroscience, said: “In several countries, including Cuba, we have demonstrated that EEG can mass-screen for certain nervous system disorders at the population level. This technology is particularly suited when resources are limited, as is the case in disengaged groups around the world. There are obstacles to overcome in using EEG on a global scale, but in doing so we can hope to improve the lives of millions more people.”

Dr Sadhana Sharma, Head of Biosciences for Health Strategy at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), said: “EEG technology has the potential to transform our daily lives and the way we diagnose and treat neurological diseases in the future, ensuring that knowledge about brain health is accessible to diverse populations around the world. As we embrace developments in bioscience, our goal remains to foster interdisciplinary collaborations that drive ethical, equitable and impactful advances in brain science on a global scale.”