Revolutionizing EEG of Pigs with the Unicorn BCI Core-8

Understanding animal brain activity has become an essential part of neuroscience, veterinary medicine, and translational research. Pigs, in particular, are highly valuable models because of their physiological and neurological similarities to humans. With the Unicorn BCI Core-8, researchers can now record high-quality EEG of pigs in real-world conditions, opening new possibilities for veterinary EEG and neuroscience.

Recently, we demonstrated this with Lotti, a pig wearing the Unicorn BCI Core-8 mounted on a halter. Four gold cup electrodes were placed on her head, and thanks to the OSCAR LIVE software add-on, movement artifacts were removed in real-time—delivering clean EEG of pigs even while she was walking.

Why Record EEG from Pigs?

Here are five reasons why veterinary researchers measure the electroencephalogram of pigs:

• Translational Neuroscience: Pigs share many structural and functional brain similarities with humans, making them excellent models for studying neurological disorders and testing treatments before moving to clinical trials.
• Anesthesia and Veterinary Care: Veterinary EEG helps monitor the effects of anesthesia, brain activity during surgery, and recovery, ensuring safer and more precise procedures.
• Neurodevelopment and Learning Studies: Recording neural activity of pigs provides insights into cognition, memory, and sensory processing—valuable for both animal cognition research and comparative neuroscience.
• Disease Modeling: Pigs are used as models for epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s. The EEG of pigs allows researchers to track biomarkers and seizure activity, advancing new therapies. By analyzing the electroencephalogram of pigs, we can gain insights into various neurological conditions and their treatments.
• Animal Welfare and Stress Monitoring: By observing EEG signals collected on pigs under different conditions, researchers can study emotional states, stress, and well-being, improving welfare practices in veterinary and agricultural contexts.

EEG is non-invasive, flexible, and cost-efficient compared to fMRI or invasive recordings. It enables recording neural activity of pigs in real-time, even during natural behaviors such as walking, eating, or interacting with their environment. This makes it indispensable for both laboratory research and applied veterinary use. EEG signals collected on pigs offer researchers a unique perspective on brain function and behavior.

Why the Unicorn BCI Core-8 is the Perfect Device

The Unicorn BCI Core-8 is a lightweight, wireless, and high-precision EEG amplifier designed for both human and animal studies. Its features make it the ideal choice for veterinary EEG and research applications on pigs:

• High signal quality: 24-bit resolution with oversampling ensures excellent signal-to-noise ratio.
• Wireless freedom: Bluetooth 5 streaming with >6 hours of battery life allows EEG of pigs during movement and natural behaviors.
• Flexible electrode options: Gold cup electrodes work perfectly in animal fur, while hybrid electrodes allow wet or dry recordings.
• Real-time software integration: Works seamlessly with g.HIsys and g.Pype SDK in Python for signal processing, visualization, and analysis. The OSCAR LIVE add-on can be activated in g.HIsys or used within Python for neuroscience, enabling real-time artifact removal during live measurements.
• Portable and robust: Weighing only 23 g, the device can be mounted on halters or harnesses without discomfort to the animal.

With these capabilities, the Unicorn BCI Core-8 is more than just a research tool—it’s a platform for advancing veterinary EEG, animal cognition studies, and translational neuroscience.

The combination of the electroencephalogram of pigs and modern tools like the Unicorn BCI Core-8 is transforming animal neuroscience. Whether it’s for disease modeling, veterinary applications, or fundamental brain research, this device provides the precision, flexibility, and ease of use researchers need.

Lotti’s case shows just how practical and powerful this technology is: reliable EEG signals collected on pigs, artifact-free in real-time, and recorded in natural conditions. With the Unicorn BCI Core-8, the future of recording neural activity of pigs is here.