Creation of a human head phantom for testing of electroencephalography equipment and techniques

Abstract

We have designed and fabricated an anatomically accurate human head phantom that is capable of generating realistic electric scalp potential patterns. This phantom was developed for performance evaluation of new electroencephalography (EEG) caps, hardware, and measurement techniques that are designed for environments high in electromagnetic and mechanical noise. The phantom was fabricated using conductive composite materials that mimic the electrical and mechanical properties of scalp, skull, and brain. The phantom prototype was calibrated and testing was conducted using a 32-electrode EEG cap. Test results show that the phantom is able to generate diverse scalp potential patterns using a finite number of dipole antennas internal to the phantom. This phantom design could provide a valuable test platform for wearable EEG technology.