Wearable EEG for Detecting Beta-Band Differences Between Paper and Screen Reading: A Proof of Concept

Portable EEG systems may facilitate electrophysiological research in naturalistic settings, but their ability to detect subtle condition-related differences during everyday cognitive tasks remains underexplored. This study is a proof of concept which examines whether a seven-channel Bluetooth EEG system could detect spectral differences between paper- and screen-based reading in adults. Fifteen participants, aged 28–43 years, completed both reading conditions in a counterbalanced within-subject design. Reading time, comprehension accuracy, and mean spectral power in the alpha and beta bands were compared between media. Our initial hypothesis was that power in the beta waves would be reduced in screen reading because its association with attentional processes is established in the current literature. No statistically significant differences were detected in reading time or comprehension accuracy. Alpha-band power also did not differ between conditions. In contrast, and in line with our hypothesis, beta-band power was statistically lower during screen-based reading than during paper-based reading. These findings suggest that the reading medium could be associated with differences in scalp-recorded beta activity even when behavioral differences are small. Although limited by the sample size and a lack of comparison with a high-density laboratory EEG, the results offer a proof of concept that a wearable low-density EEG system could be a useful tool for investigating spectral differences during naturalistic reading tasks.