Dry vs. Gel Electrodes

The Explore system supports both dry and gel-based electrodes. Each electrode type has advantages and limitations depending on the experimental setup, recording environment, and data quality requirements.

⚠️ Electrode Safety

Only use electrodes and accessories provided or approved by Mentalab. The system’s safety design, including input protection and impedance limits, is based on the use of specified components. The use of non-approved electrodes or modifications to the electrode setup may compromise signal quality and electrical safety.

Dry Electrodes

Description

  • Made of conductive material

  • Designed to make skin contact without conductive paste or gel.

  • Mounted in the EEG cap with light pressure against the scalp.

Advantages

  • Very fast setup – no skin preparation or gel application required.

  • Easy to clean and maintain.

  • Comfortable for participants, especially in short or repeated sessions.

  • Suitable for mobile and field experiments where preparation time is limited.

Limitations

  • Higher average electrode impedance compared to gel electrodes.

  • More sensitive to hair density and movement artifacts.

  • Signal quality may vary depending on scalp location (better on forehead/behind ears, less reliable under dense hair).

Best Use Cases - Dry Electrodes

  • Quick demonstrations or teaching sessions.

  • Experiments where preparation time must be minimized.

  • Experiments where the participant does not tolerate the application of EEG gel.

Gel Electrodes

Description

  • Use conductive electrode gel to create a stable electrical contact with the skin.

  • Inserted into the EEG cap with gel injected at the scalp–electrode interface.

Advantages

  • Lower impedance values (typically <10 kΩ achievable).

  • More stable contact during long recordings.

  • Superior signal quality in terms of reduced noise and fewer dropouts.

Limitations

  • Longer preparation and cleanup time.

  • Requires gel and cleaning consumables.

  • Less comfortable for participants during very long sessions.

  • Hygiene management required (cleaning, disinfecting after each use).

Best Use Cases

  • Research protocols requiring high signal fidelity (ERP studies, clinical-grade analysis).

  • Long-term experiments where stable impedances are critical.

  • Laboratory environments with sufficient time and resources for preparation.