Brain-monitoring wearables like EEG headbands are trending, but can they really track your brain health? Experts break down what they measure, limitations, and benefits. (image: Pexels)
Wearable technology has significantly advanced and moved beyond basic fitness and cardiovascular trackers. It’s now being used to explore and study more complex aspects of human health, like the brain. Recently, Deepinder Goyal, the founder of Zomato, wore a device called Temple on the side of his forehead on Raj Shamani’s podcast, which sparked curiosity about brain-monitoring wearables.
Talking about this latest trend in healthcare with Moneycontrol, Dr Anirudh R. Deshmukh, Consultant Neurologist at Kailash Hospital in Noida, said, “Brain-monitoring wearables, ranging from EEG-based headbands, which use surface sensors to detect the brain’s electrical activity, to experimental devices that attempt to infer cerebral blood flow, are increasingly being positioned as tools for long-term brain health tracking.”
“This emerging trend reflects growing public interest in preventive health and personalised data, while also raising important clinical questions around accuracy, interpretation, and real-world relevance,” he added.
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What Brain Monitoring Wearables Measure
According to Dr Deshmukh, “Most brain-focused wearables rely on non-invasive technologies. EEG sensors capture surface-level electrical activity, while optical or sensor-based systems attempt to infer blood flow or physiological changes linked to neural function. These devices do not visualise brain structures or diagnose disease. Instead, they record indirect signals associated with functional states such as sleep stages, alertness, mental fatigue, or stress response. The output is trend-based and contextual rather than diagnostic.”
Why Neurologists Are Paying Attention
From a medical perspective, brain health is evaluated by tracking functional changes over a period of time rather than depending on one-off readings. Many neurological concerns such as sleep disturbances, cognitive fatigue, or stress-related symptoms develop gradually and may not be fully apparent during brief clinic visits.
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Dr Deshmukh said, “Brain-monitoring wearables have drawn attention because they offer a way to observe patterns of brain activity in daily life. While these devices do not diagnose disease or replace clinical testing, they may provide additional context when patients report persistent or fluctuating symptoms. For neurologists, the emphasis is not on the device itself, but on how such information might help guide decisions about further evaluation when interpreted alongside medical history and examination findings.”
Scientific and Clinical Limitations
While they may be gaining traction, brain-monitoring wearables have limitations. This is due to the fact that the brain function is highly complex and influenced by factors such as posture, movement, hydration levels, emotional engagement, and environmental differences. Dr Deshmukh noted, “EEG signals recorded through wearable devices are more susceptible to artefacts than clinical recordings. Additionally, physiological measures like cerebral blood flow (CBF) are highly regulated and cannot, therefore, provide any useful measurements related to brain health in isolation. Currently, commercially available brain-tracking devices have yet to achieve an adequate level of clinically proven diagnoses in relation to neurological disorders and disease progression prediction.”
The Practical Role of Wearables
These wearables currently are looked at as only supplementary tools. According to the neurologist, they may support self-awareness, research, and early medical consultation when persistent changes are observed. Their value depends on careful interpretation, scientific validation, and integration within established neurological care.
Brain-monitoring wearables mark a significant change in wearable tech, fuelled by a focus on long-term brain health. Although the idea shows promise, scientific limitations currently restrict its clinical importance. However, it will be evidence, not innovation, which determines whether these devices shall prove to be valuable aids in the treatment of neurological disorders.
FAQs on Brain-Monitoring Wearables
1. What are brain-monitoring wearables?
Brain-monitoring wearables are devices that use technologies like EEG sensors to capture brain activity and infer physiological changes related to neural functions.
2. How do these wearables work?
Most brain-monitoring wearables use non-invasive methods, such as surface-level EEG sensors, to detect brain electrical activity or other physiological changes linked to brain function.
3. What can these devices measure?
These devices record indirect signals associated with states like sleep stages, alertness, mental fatigue, or stress response, rather than visualising brain structures or diagnosing diseases.
4. Are these devices accurate?
While they offer valuable insights, wearable devices are more susceptible to artefacts and currently lack the accuracy of clinical recordings for diagnosing neurological disorders.
5. Can wearables replace clinical testing?
No, wearables cannot replace clinical testing. They are supplementary tools that provide additional context when interpreted alongside medical history and examination findings.
6. What are the practical applications of these wearables?
Wearables can support self-awareness, research, and early medical consultation when significant changes in brain activity are observed, but their interpretation requires careful scientific validation.
Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for a specific health diagnosis