6 Uses of EEG Headsets

The use of EEG headsets, where you can control something with your mind or have someone see how your brains works, might seem like a gadget straight out of a science fiction film, yet EEG is fast becoming a common method in everything from gaming to marketing. Here are just some of its uses:

To Gain Mobility

For people who were born without a limb, or have lost a limb in later life, prosthetics have been mainly used for aesthetic purposes. However, new advances in EEG and prosthetic technology has now shown that it’s possible for these prosthetics to be controlled by the mind, and function in a practical way. The development of this technology could allow people to have fully functional prosthetic arms and legs in the not too far distant future.

 

To Make Music

In 2013, Smirnoff’s Project Mindtunes sought to break through the barriers of music-making that disabled musicians endure. The project saw DJ Fresh team up with three disabled musicians connected to EEG headsets. The brain waves captured by the headsets were then translated into music in order to create a complete track. The Mindtunes single can be bought on iTunes where it is raising money for charity.

To Play Video Games

EEG, along with VR, is said to be the future of video gaming. The idea being that gamers are able to control the movements in the game with just their thoughts. There are already a few EEG games on the market including Dagaz and FlappyMind.

 

Neuromarketing

Using EEG in a company’s marketing is a particularly smart move for a business, as although it may seem an excessive route, it may actually save marketing costs. Beer giants Heineken recently created a new TV advert and decided to test the advert on a focus group in both the traditional way and also using EEG. The traditional focus group suggested that the advert didn’t get the brand’s message across – something that would have resulted in paying for a totally new advert and concept. However, the EEG group showed that the advert actually did evoke the right feelings in those who watched it, showing that neuromarketing could possibly be the future of marketing focus groups.

 

Behaviour Studies

How people behave and react to certain situations is an incredibly interesting subject, and with the use of EEG headsets scientists are now able to map our brain to see how different people react in certain situations. One such study, called Your Brain on Poker, used EEG to examine the different processes during a poker match between expert players and amateur players. Here the study showed that an expert player would react far more logically and be less emotionally upset if a play went bad. In comparison, amateur players were more likely to base decisions led by emotion.

 

Clinical Studies

As many as one in four people in the UK are suffering from a mental illness such as depression or anxiety, yet at the moment the main treatment for the illnesses is to prescribe a medication. New research, however, is looking at treating mental illness using music. Much like a certain song can evoke happiness or sadness when we hear it, scientists are using EEG headsets to quantify why music causes these emotions in our minds. In the future it may be possible to receive music therapy rather than medication for mental illness.

 

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