Measuring Brain Waves in the Classroom

Brain researchers used to study the workings of the brain only in special laboratories at universities or hospitals. Recently, researchers started using portable devices that people can wear on their heads outside of the laboratory. For example, these devices allow researchers to measure the brain activity of students in classrooms, as they go through the school day. This sounds futuristic, and maybe also a bit alarming. In this article, we will explain what such devices do and do not measure—for example, they cannot read your mind! We will also explain how this kind of research can be useful to you and your classmates.