Case comparison of sleep features from ear-EEG and scalp-EEG

Background We investigate the potential usability of a novel in-the-ear electroencephalography recording device for sleep staging. Methods In one healthy subject we compare simultaneous earelectroencephalography to standard scalp EEG visually and using power spectrograms. Hypnograms independently derived from the records are compared. Results We find that alpha activity, K complexes, sleep spindles and slow wave sleep can be visually distinguished using earelectroencephalography. Spectral peaks are shared between the two records. Hypnograms are 90.9% similar. Conclusion The results indicate that ear-electroencephalography can be used for sleep staging.