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.
Keywords: Ear-EEG; Electroencephalography; Long term monitoring; Personal device; Polysomnography; Sleep staging.