What is your goal with the Cerelog ESP-EEG?

During my mid-teens, I got this wild idea that I could reproduce the experience of psilosybe cubensis by learning to mimic the brainwave patterns through the practice of neurofeedback. I didn't have an EEG, but I learned about the OpenEEG project. Eventually I bought an OpenEEG-based MonolithEEG[0] during a summer where I was fortunate enough to be in west Europe.

Shortly thereafter, I realized I had no experience at all with electronics assembly, and the fever dream quickly evaporated. The MonolithEEG PCB was lost to time.

[0] http://www.shifz.org/moosec/index-Dateien/Page431.htm

That’s a great story about the Monolith.

To answer your question: My primary goal right now is simply reliable, high fidelity data collection. However, I think neurofeedback is a fascinating application. I’ve been interested in eventually mixing this tech with tACS in a closed loop control system to train the brain to enter specific mental states.

Regarding the MonolithEEG, it's wild to look back at that tech. It is a shame it was limited to 2 channels at 10 bit resolution, but it was a pioneer. With the ADS1299, we are now getting 24 bit resolution across 8 channels. That difference in dynamic range makes a huge difference, especially for precision applications like SSVEP where the noise floor really matters.

Such a striking similarity to my own path. But I was in early 20s-mid 20s, going through some more difficult times and after a lot of research and study of the nervous system and trauma, I came to the conclusion that neurofeedback seems like the magic wand that had the biggest chance to actually produce a transformative effect.

I was experienced with soldering and electronics (mostly board repairs so not design), but not at a professional level. Initially I got an Analog Devices ADC, which they sent for free as I was still registered as a student at the time. I was trying to replicate some existing open source projects, but on an extremely low cost. Ultimately I got stuck in the weeds, and eventually gave up and just bought the ADS1299EEGFE-PDK evaluation board (upon which the original OpenBCI is based iirc). But eventually, again, postponed that, I was in the process of converting the LabView software to C, and to support real-time signal processing. After a short while I moved to the opposite corner of Europe and all those boards are sitting somewhere in my parent's attic. So the question in my mind still remains. Because neurofeedback does sound a bit too good to be true. But evidence is solid as well.

I will definitely give it another go at some point when life gives me more slack/spare time and space.

Won't work. Those drugs blockade this receptor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-HT2A_receptor

and flatline

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_raphe_nucleus

and if you wanted to measure that you would have to stick electrodes deep into your brain, no way are you going to see what is going on there from the surface.

Stuff I was doing last month got me interested in biofeedback again, I have some talent for it, I can make those mood rings change color at will.

Most of the EEG-based biofeedback devices have three electrodes around the temple and cost about $300 and don't really work because those alpha, beta, theta and delta waves all appear in different parts of the brain and can't be read out of the same electrodes. I hear you can do better with five electrodes but the five-electrode headsets I see don't advertise a price.

I wound up getting a Polar H10 heart rate monitor which can be used with HRV software

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_rate_variability

but the "biofeedback" apps I have seen so far seem to be breathing exercises that you could do without any hardware. I have electronics for EMG (muscles) and GSR (skin resistance) to hook up to an Ardunio and will probably try making a setup. I'm still looking for a soup-to-nuts answer for EEG biofeedback.