Wearable 16-channel electroencephalography for 8-day continuous monitoring

Abstract Monitoring cognitive state in everyday life requires unobtrusive electroencephalography (EEG), yet conventional systems rely on non-breathable contacts that dry and slip on hair and on bulky, low-channel hardware that compromises comfort and signal fidelity. We introduce a fully breathable, integrated wearable EEG system that enables week-scale daily brain recording with smartphone-based attention assessment. An in situ-gelled, macroporous hydrogel coupled to a thin, flexible Ag/AgCl mesh electrode establishes a hair-compatible, anti-drying, friction-resistant scalp–hydrogel–electrode interface that maintains stable long-term signals. An earhook wireless module with macroporous silicone encapsulation enhances breathability and comfort, while a wirelessly rechargeable battery supports continuous operation in everyday settings . During treadmill running (6.5 km h −1 ), the hydrogel interface suppresses stride-locked artefacts (3.02 Hz) and increases signal-to-noise ratio relative to commercial EEG paste electrodes. Overnight wireless recordings yield sleep staging and spectral metrics comparable to polysomnography benchmarking. Extending on these validations, we demonstrate continuous 16-channel scalp EEG over 8 days of naturalistic activity and use machine-learning algorithms to generate real-time attention assessment via a smartphone interface. This breathable, durable architecture enables unobtrusive, longitudinal neurophysiology and opens avenues for neurological disease monitoring, learning and performance support, workplace safety, and ecologically valid brain research.