Hi Folks,
This is another product review for Washington, DC neurofeedback systems (Independent - No financial stake). The Emotiv Epoch/Insight is a new consumer-focused $300 - $400 (5-Ch) dry sensor neurofeedback unit.
To begin, the Emotiv Epoch is sexy, sleek, and built with the modern design thinker in mind. However, the system's Washington, DC neurofeedback performance is limited - Very limited. In fact . . . We would classify this as more of a novelty or a toy for a child who is interested in playing with neurofeedback for entertainment purposes only.
This neurofeedback system is so limiting that they do not even have the ability to provide the Raw EEG data - Presumably because they are unable to filter out the huge amounts of artifact (interference from muscle tension and movement) so as to render a clean EEG signal for neurofeedback.
This neurofeedback system may be interesting for gamers and individuals interested in novelty items and toys, but this neurofeedback system does not match the products that you purchase at the $1,200+ range. Choosing to purchase a Washington, DC neurofeedback system that is under $1,200, as of 2017, may result in a lack of any real neurofeedback training capabilities from your unit.
Furthermore, they advertise themselves as a Dry Sensor neurofeedback headset, but upon attaching the unit to the scalp, you will readily discover that the system barely makes any contact with actual electrical signals - Even it's own very limited electrical sensors did not register as having made contact with the skin. Thankfully, they included a saline solution in the package, which was, according to Tech Support, designed to be used only when needed. This is a marketing error on their part, because the system should have been advertised as a saline neurofeedback system from the beginning, so we would not have been surprised when we expected a "Dry Sensor" system. Additionally, the neurofeedback system's saline was pretty much leaking everywhere when we opened the package, and this eventually formed into a medium for bacterial growth.
To the company's credit, they are striving to produce an affordable consumer-level EEG for Washington, DC neurofeedback, and they are stimulating market interest in related neurofeedback products. However, this neurofeedback technology has not yet reached the level of sophistication necessary for actual EEG recordings or neurofeedback.
The below image illustrates some of the neurofeedback software metrics, which are probably averages of EEG data that they manage to extract from their amplifier. As you can see, you do not have access to raw EEG data for neurofeedback, and they have created their own metrics: "Interest, Engagement, Focus, Relaxation, Instantaneous Excitement, and Long-Term Excitement". These metrics are not operationally defined and so therefore lack any meaningful role in scientific research of neurofeedback - Moreover, we did not find that the neurofeedback data effectively correlated with any major states other than 'Relaxation' and 'Excitation', which could be readily measured with a far more cost effective Galvanic Skin Response sensor.
This is another product review for Washington, DC neurofeedback systems (Independent - No financial stake). The Emotiv Epoch/Insight is a new consumer-focused $300 - $400 (5-Ch) dry sensor neurofeedback unit.
To begin, the Emotiv Epoch is sexy, sleek, and built with the modern design thinker in mind. However, the system's Washington, DC neurofeedback performance is limited - Very limited. In fact . . . We would classify this as more of a novelty or a toy for a child who is interested in playing with neurofeedback for entertainment purposes only.
This neurofeedback system is so limiting that they do not even have the ability to provide the Raw EEG data - Presumably because they are unable to filter out the huge amounts of artifact (interference from muscle tension and movement) so as to render a clean EEG signal for neurofeedback.
This neurofeedback system may be interesting for gamers and individuals interested in novelty items and toys, but this neurofeedback system does not match the products that you purchase at the $1,200+ range. Choosing to purchase a Washington, DC neurofeedback system that is under $1,200, as of 2017, may result in a lack of any real neurofeedback training capabilities from your unit.
Furthermore, they advertise themselves as a Dry Sensor neurofeedback headset, but upon attaching the unit to the scalp, you will readily discover that the system barely makes any contact with actual electrical signals - Even it's own very limited electrical sensors did not register as having made contact with the skin. Thankfully, they included a saline solution in the package, which was, according to Tech Support, designed to be used only when needed. This is a marketing error on their part, because the system should have been advertised as a saline neurofeedback system from the beginning, so we would not have been surprised when we expected a "Dry Sensor" system. Additionally, the neurofeedback system's saline was pretty much leaking everywhere when we opened the package, and this eventually formed into a medium for bacterial growth.
To the company's credit, they are striving to produce an affordable consumer-level EEG for Washington, DC neurofeedback, and they are stimulating market interest in related neurofeedback products. However, this neurofeedback technology has not yet reached the level of sophistication necessary for actual EEG recordings or neurofeedback.
The below image illustrates some of the neurofeedback software metrics, which are probably averages of EEG data that they manage to extract from their amplifier. As you can see, you do not have access to raw EEG data for neurofeedback, and they have created their own metrics: "Interest, Engagement, Focus, Relaxation, Instantaneous Excitement, and Long-Term Excitement". These metrics are not operationally defined and so therefore lack any meaningful role in scientific research of neurofeedback - Moreover, we did not find that the neurofeedback data effectively correlated with any major states other than 'Relaxation' and 'Excitation', which could be readily measured with a far more cost effective Galvanic Skin Response sensor.
