Neurable and NextSense are bringing EEG sensors into consumer headphones, turning familiar audio products into devices that can capture signals associated with brain activity. The technology is not designed to read thoughts; instead, software analyzes signal patterns to estimate states such as focus, fatigue or sleep.
Electroencephalography, or EEG, traditionally uses electrodes placed on the scalp in clinical and research settings to measure electrical signals produced by the brain. Wearable makers are attempting to place some of those electrodes inside headphones and earbuds, where they can be worn as part of a daily routine.
Neurable’s MW75 Neuro headphones use integrated EEG sensors to monitor focus, while NextSense Smartbuds incorporate electrodes in compact earbuds for functions that include sleep monitoring. Apple also filed a 2023 patent application describing in-ear headphones with electrodes capable of measuring EEG signals, although a patent filing does not confirm that future AirPods will include the feature.
Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 already measure heart rate, illustrating how biometric sensing is becoming more common in audio wearables. EEG would extend that approach from conventional health metrics to data derived from neural activity.
Other companies are pursuing wearable control systems with different biosignal technology. Meta’s Neural Band uses electromyography, or EMG, to read electrical activity generated by hand muscles and turn it into commands for smart glasses. EEG tracks brain activity, while EMG measures muscular activity.
The consumer expansion of EEG also puts neurodata privacy in focus. Devices that collect heart rate, temperature and sleep metrics already face questions around access, retention and reuse; EEG-equipped wearables could add information inferred from brain activity to that dataset. UNESCO adopted a recommendation on the ethics of neurotechnology in 2025 that includes protections for autonomy and mental privacy. As EEG moves beyond laboratories, data permissions may become as consequential for headphones as battery life and noise cancellation.
