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Imagine if a pair of sticker-like sensors could revolutionize earbuds, turning them into a potent health monitor capable of detecting brain or mood disorders and providing real-time treatment through sounds or electrical pulses. Engineers at the University of California, San Diego, are in the process of developing flexible sensors, small enough to be affixed to earbuds, that can record both electrical brain activity and lactate levels in sweat. These sensors hold the potential to not only monitor but also treat conditions on the spot, employing techniques like playing sounds or using electrical stimulation to influence brain activity, a cutting-edge therapy known as electroceuticals.
Gert Cauwenberghs, PhD, a leading engineer spearheading this sensor development and a professor of bioengineering at UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering, explains, “We can harness the auditory signal to steer brain states towards more favorable outcomes. These things are now possible since we can establish a feedback loop between generating sounds and measuring brain activity.”
A study published in Nature Biomedical Engineering demonstrated that these sensors were just as effective as conventional monitoring methods like electroencephalogram (EEG) headsets for assessing brain activity and taking blood samples for lactate levels. However, unlike traditional methods, these sensors can be worn continuously in daily life outside a clinical setting.
These sensors are designed to maintain a snug contact with the ear and are covered with a hydrogel film to absorb sweat. They can transmit data to the earbuds, which then relay it to a smartphone or laptop via Bluetooth.
While using in-ear devices for health tracking isn’t entirely new, this development is the first to integrate brain and body sensors, opening up a realm of possibilities for research and clinical advancements.
This technology holds the potential to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions, from brain-related disorders like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and epilepsy, to mood disorders like PTSD, anxiety, and depression. It could also detect and address conditions such as strokes, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and traumatic brain injuries. In particular, in-ear wearables could be exceptionally valuable for conditions affecting the brain. For example, individuals undergoing epilepsy testing could be remotely monitored, even wearing the sensors at night to detect seizures that might otherwise go unnoticed.
When combined with EEG readings, changes in lactate levels could provide additional evidence for diagnoses. For instance, lactate tends to rise after a seizure. Elevated lactate levels might also signal diabetes or heart disease. Additionally, tracking lactate levels could prove valuable in sports performance.
Perhaps the most thrilling application is a “closed loop” system that autonomously monitors and treats conditions without requiring human intervention. For individuals with tinnitus, the device could monitor the condition and experiment with various sounds, playing those that alleviate tinnitus markers. This technology could similarly address sleep disorders, cognitive decline, panic attacks, or chronic pain by delivering music, providing deep-breathing instructions, offering positive affirmations, or applying electrical stimulation, and adapting therapies based on real-time responses.
As for the availability of this technology, it’s likely to take several years for the device to undergo testing and gain approval for clinical use, according to Cauwenberghs. However, everyday consumers may encounter in-ear wearables capable of tracking similar data sooner, as more companies enter the burgeoning market of “hearables” – earbuds that double as health trackers.
The ear is an ideal location for this technology, given its proximity to the brain and the fact that people already wear earbuds for extended periods. So, widespread adoption shouldn’t pose a significant hurdle.
Companies like NextSense are developing EEG-reading hearables, and STAT Health recently unveiled an in-ear device capable of tracking blood flow to the head and predicting fainting spells. Viirre envisions a future where hearables can capture even more biological data, such as hormone levels, blood glucose, and stress markers.
Cauwenberghs emphasizes, “Smartwatches can give you a lot of data, but in a way it’s very limited. Doctors don’t use it; it’s more like a gadget.” Integrating closed-loop technology could be “the difference between being able to see the weather forecast and being able to do something about the hurricane.”
“With this closed loop of biofeedback and neurofeedback, our vision goes way beyond monitoring,” he added.
