Streaming, saving and scripting real EEG brainwave data can be done on a Raspberry Pi. In this example we will be using the Muse (2016) EEG headband combined with a Raspberry Pi 3 B+ inside a PiTop. The tools being used have been available for years making this a straight forward process to get up and running. Let’s start with getting our Pi running a Raspbian based release up to date. Open a terminal window and start running the following commands.
Next we need to clone the Muse-LSL library from github. This “lab streaming layer” is popular and being used for many different types of EEG headsets. It does include connection and recording script examples which are specific to the Muse (2016) headset. We will come back to this and run the example scripts after we take care of the dependencies.
Finally, we have one bit of craziness to deal with. Using a Raspberry Pi means we are on an ARM based processor. The default distribution for liblsl includes a 32-bit i386 architecture library which will stop us in our tracks. We need to download an updated library bundle, unzip it and copy the arm based lsl library over the i386 one.
Okay, now we are setup to catch some brainwaves. Let’s start by power up the Muse headband and scanning it for it using the muse-lsl scanner code:
$ cd muse-lsl
$ python scan_devices.py
We will get a device name and a MAC address if all goes well. Let’s stick with the mac address and create a connection from the Raspberry Pi to the Muse headband. We are connected and streaming data.
$ python muse-lsl.py –address 00:55:DA:B0:9F:A3
We are connected. Now that EEG data can flow towards us we have three options. We can view it, record it or stream it. Here is how we can view the data using the lsl-viewer code included with muse-lsl. This example script shows which sensors are receiving data and the values coming in.
$ python lsl-viewer.py
The real power of the Raspberry Pi is that it can be tucked away and left to do tasks like recording EEG automatically. Let’s finish this with a look at what the command line recording syntax and resulting data file look like. We can hit ^C at any point and get a dump.csv file. The first five values are the different electrode values and the final value is a timestamp.
Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
