Introduction to EMG Artifacts

The muscles in the jaw and forehead generate potentials exponentially larger than the brain.

Technical illustration
Fig 1. EMG vs EEG amplitude scales

Technical Specifications

A single blink can generate a 100µV spike, completely drowning out the 5µV cortical signals underneath.

Data & Methodology

ParameterClinical StandardConsumer Average
Blink Amplitude~100 µVUnfiltered
Jaw Clench> 200 µVOften misclassified

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my data is real?

If the signal perfectly aligns with you moving your eyes or tensing your jaw, it is almost certainly EMG, not EEG.

Next Steps

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