Non-invasive scalp recording of electroencephalograms and evoked potentials in unanesthetized horses using a 12-channel active electrode array.
Authors: Itoh Kosuke, Kikumura Norihide, Maeda Tamao, Hirata Satoshi, Ringhofer Monamie
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Researchers have developed the first practical non-invasive method for recording brain electrical activity from multiple sites across the equine scalp whilst horses remain fully conscious and unmedicated, using a specially designed 12-channel electrode array with brush-shaped active electrodes capable of penetrating the hair coat. By measuring cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs)—the brain's electrical responses to sound onsets and offsets—the team successfully demonstrated clear, interpretable waveforms with a morphology similar to human responses, though with notably shorter latencies, and found that maximum signal amplitude occurred at centroparietal rather than frontocentral locations, likely reflecting anatomical differences in where the equine auditory cortex is positioned. This technique opens significant possibilities for non-invasive assessment of equine cognition, neurological status, and brain function in clinical and research settings without reliance on general anaesthesia, which carries inherent risks and may alter the very brain activity being measured. For equine professionals involved in performance assessment, welfare evaluation, or managing neurological conditions, this methodology could eventually support earlier detection of cognitive or neurological changes and provide objective measures of how horses process sensory information and respond to their environment. The approach is also adaptable to other medium-to-large mammals, potentially broadening its application across veterinary practice.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •This methodology enables non-invasive assessment of equine brain function and cognitive abilities in awake, unanesthetized horses without the need for surgical implants
- •The technique could support clinical evaluation of neurological conditions and behavioral problems by measuring brain electrical activity in working environments
- •Practitioners may eventually use this tool to objectively assess sensory processing and neurological status as part of comprehensive equine health evaluations
Key Findings
- •Non-invasive 12-channel EEG recording successfully captured cortical auditory evoked potentials (CAEPs) in awake horses using brush-shaped active electrodes
- •Equine CAEP waveform showed P1-N1-P2-N2 complex morphology similar to humans but with shorter latencies
- •Maximal CAEP amplitudes occurred at centroparietal electrodes in horses, contrasting with frontocentral distribution in humans, likely due to species differences in auditory cortex anatomy