Attention vs meditation (alternative Neurosky mindwave)

fmarengo · October 2018

Dear all,

I want to measure the attention and meditation states of a subject. The easiest option would be using the Neurosky Mindwave headset (https://store.neurosky.com/pages/mindwave), but it is not available here. Therefore, I have to assemble a hardware from scratch, and use one or at most 3 dry electrodes.

Which boards and pieces of hardware do you recommend me for this aim, please?

Which signal processing techniques do I need in order to measure the attention and meditation states? Is it just as simple as determining the PSD in the alpha and beta frequency ranges?

Thank you very much in advance.

Best regards,

Fernando

Thorinair · November 2018

You could easily order a used MindFlex EEG headset for around $30 from eBay along with a bluetooth module and hack it so that it works exactly like the Mindwave headset! I did that with mine, and I am currently working on making my own simpler OpenBCI headset which will be run off the electronics from this same MindFlex (with only 1 electrode of course).

Their meditation and attention levels are proprietary and black box, they don't reveal exactly how they work, but it is probably related to amplitudes of certain wavelengths.

If you want, I could give you a simple guide on how this hack can be achieved (requires a bit of soldering and purchasing the bluetooth module).

khofstadter · January 2019

hi Fernando,

you could also look into the neuro-feeback protocols by NeuroMeditation/Jeff Tarrant:

https://www.neuromeditationinstitute.com/#welcome-to-the-neuromeditation-institute

https://www.drjefftarrant.com/

HTH, k

fmarengo · January 2019

Hi Khofstadter,

Thanks for the information! I started
writing to Dr Tarrant a couple of months ago, and he told me he uses the
Muse headband. However for relaxation purposes, it would be ideal to
measure at FZ and PZ. Anyway, your e-mail reminded me to keep contacting
him, so I appreciate your message!

Take care,

Fernando

khofstadter · January 2019

Hi Fernando,

Maybe he uses the Muse as well or started using it more often nowadays.

I think his protocols suggest that he must use a full cap as well:

He is running some workshops. I was planning to go...

Thanks! k

wjcroft · January 2019

Here are two talks given by Jeff Tarrant from the NeuroMeditation Institute. He gives an overview of the styles of meditation, and 10-20 sites that he measures in his neurofeedback protocols. He does both 2 channel and 19 channel (3D Loreta) protocols.

fmarengo · January 2019

Hi Thorinair,

Thanks for your comments. Yes, I am interested in your guide for your low-cost EEG device. Would you like to share it here, please?

Thank you.

Fernando

Attention vs meditation (alternative Neurosky mindwave)

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