The ear canal is extremely “waxy”. Direct electrodes placed in the earbuds will not get a good enough signal.

@Favilar EEG via ear definitely possible. See e.g. nextSense (google X spinout) research https://www.nextsense.io/resources

@RH Thanks for sharing! My comment: nextsense’s earbuds in there are huge, they are patient specific (depend on a 3D scan of the ear), and require cleaning the wax with alcohol before placement. It doesn’t sound very Apple-ish.

Behind the ear is much better quality signal an accesible.

Besides, the question is for a consumer health product to be made by Apple. If they can not get good enough SNR or to get it means having a huge in-ear mass (not aesthetic or comfortable), Apple will not commit for it. That’s why my NO.

I would guess, the vision pro “package” (as presented to the public so far) would present a nice opportunity for BCI. Either fNIRS or EEG.

Nextsense seems to have a very nice niche in neurological patients, it would also work very nicely for anaesthesia depth monitoring (Massimo’s Sedline or Medtronic’s BIS). At the moment they use forehead patches. The signal is very sensible and the patches simply come off with perspiration. Huge market, wink wink 😜 nextsense.

@Favilar thanks for the detailed response. I hear you. Agree it's more likely with headsets but interesting to see the patent coming out.