Cerelog ESP-EEG – A low-cost ESP32-based EEG acquisition board for brain computer interface (BCI) experiments

The Cerelog ESP-EEG is an 8-channel, low-cost brain computer interface (BCI) circuit board built around the ESP32 MCU and designed for EEG data acquisition. The board supports 8-channel, 24-bit EEG data collection and connects to a host system over USB-C for both power and data.

The board has an active noise-removal bias pin which reduces mains interference, along with onboard status LEDs, including a dedicated indicator for active data capture. It works with third-party or DIY EEG headsets using adapter boards, and STL files are provided for 3D printed mounts. Cerelog also offers various software tools and sample code to enable real-time EEG visualization, BCI experiments, neurofeedback, and custom brain-controlled applications.

Cerelog ESP-EEG specifications:

• Wireless Module – ESP32-WROOM-32
  • SoC – ESP32
    • CPU – Dual-core processor @ 160 MHz
    • Memory  – 520 KB SRAM
    • Wireless WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2
  • Storage – 4 MB flash
  • PCB antenna
• Analog Front-End (via TI’s ADS1299 ADC for EEG and Biopotentials)
  • Input channels – 8 differential channels + 1 bias probe
  • Sampling rate – 250 samples per second per channel (default, firmware configurable)
  • Programmable gain – 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 (firmware configurable)
  • Closed-loop active bias (common-mode noise cancellation, 50/60 Hz hum suppression).
  • Montage – Referential (default) or Sequential
  • Supports EEG, EMG, ECG, EOG
• Connectivity – Wi-Fi and Bluetooth via onboard ESP32 (software under development)
• USB – USB Type-C port for data and power
• Misc
  • Toggle Switch for power
  • Power, Firmware Status, and Battery Charge LED
  • Onboard haptic feedback motor (firmware-controlled)
• Power Supply
  • 5V via USB-C port
  • External 3.7 V LiPo battery via JST-PH 2.0 mm connector
  • Onboard LiPo charging circuit
• Dimensions – TBD

The company mentions that the Cerelog ESP-EEG requires user-supplied EEG electrode caps, touch-proof adapters, and conductive gel for operation. It is strictly designed for research and development use, is not a medical device, and is not FDA approved or UL/FCC/CE certified. The device does not include medical-grade electrical isolation and must be operated only on battery power, such as a laptop running on its internal battery or an external power bank, and must not be used while connected to mains power.

The Cerelog ESP-EEG supports two primary software integration paths: Lab Streaming Layer (LSL) for interoperability with neuroscience tools and BrainFlow for custom application development. For visualization, a custom Python client streams EEG data over USB-C via LSL to a forked OpenBCI GUI, enabling compatibility with standard neuroscience software and MATLAB. For development, a custom BrainFlow fork provides a unified API for Python, C++, Java, and MATLAB, with support for high-precision timestamps, filtering, and data logging. All software, setup scripts, test utilities, and example applications are available on GitHub. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are supported in hardware, but wireless software is still under development. More information is available in the user guide.

Previously, we have written about other BCI-related hardware such as the PiEEG kit, a Raspberry Pi 5–based bioscience lab in a suitcase, the ardEEG shield for Arduino UNO R4 WiFi HAT capable of measuring multiple biosignals, and the E3K all-in-one wireless biosensing platform that supports EMG, ECG, and EEG sensors.

The ESP-EEG board is currently available on the official Cerelog store for $299.99 USD, but note that it is an introductory discount, and the MSRP is $499.99.

Via Hackster.io.

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