Conformal in-ear bioelectronics for visual and auditory brain-computer interfaces

Zhouheng Wang, Nanlin Shi, Yingchao Zhang, Ning Zheng, Haicheng Li, Yang Jiao, Jiahui Cheng, Yutong Wang, Xiaoqing Zhang, Ying Chen, Yihao Chen, Heling Wang, Tao Xie, Yijun Wang, Yinji Ma (), Xiaorong Gao () and Xue Feng ()
Additional contact information
Zhouheng Wang: Tsinghua University
Nanlin Shi: Tsinghua University
Yingchao Zhang: Tsinghua University
Ning Zheng: Zhejiang University
Haicheng Li: Tsinghua University
Yang Jiao: Tsinghua University
Jiahui Cheng: Tsinghua University
Yutong Wang: Tsinghua University
Xiaoqing Zhang: Capital Medical University
Ying Chen: Institute of Flexible Electronics Technology of THU
Yihao Chen: Tsinghua University
Heling Wang: Tsinghua University
Tao Xie: Zhejiang University
Yijun Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yinji Ma: Tsinghua University
Xiaorong Gao: Tsinghua University
Xue Feng: Tsinghua University

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have attracted considerable attention in motor and language rehabilitation. Most devices use cap-based non-invasive, headband-based commercial products or microneedle-based invasive approaches, which are constrained for inconvenience, limited applications, inflammation risks and even irreversible damage to soft tissues. Here, we propose in-ear visual and auditory BCIs based on in-ear bioelectronics, named as SpiralE, which can adaptively expand and spiral along the auditory meatus under electrothermal actuation to ensure conformal contact. Participants achieve offline accuracies of 95% in 9-target steady state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) BCI classification and type target phrases successfully in a calibration-free 40-target online SSVEP speller experiment. Interestingly, in-ear SSVEPs exhibit significant 2nd harmonic tendencies, indicating that in-ear sensing may be complementary for studying harmonic spatial distributions in SSVEP studies. Moreover, natural speech auditory classification accuracy can reach 84% in cocktail party experiments. The SpiralE provides innovative concepts for designing 3D flexible bioelectronics and assists the development of biomedical engineering and neural monitoring.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39814-6

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