Beginner
Dry vs. wet electrodes
Also known as: Dry electrode, Gel electrode
Wet EEG electrodes use conductive gel for a clean signal; dry electrodes skip the gel for convenience at some cost in quality.
Clinical EEG uses gel or saline to lower the resistance between skin and sensor. Consumer headsets mostly use dry electrodes (metal pins, conductive rubber or fabric) so they can be put on in seconds. This makes them more sensitive to movement and noise.
Last updated Sep 30, 2026. Educational content, not medical advice.