A new wearable device allows scientists to take electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements from active, moving horses' brains in real time, which could help us better understand how horses think and react, researchers said. | Photo: Courtesy Dr. Hugo Cousillas

If you could just get inside your horse’s head sometimes, right?

Thanks to novel technology developed by French researchers, we could very well be heading that direction. A new, wearable device allows scientists to take electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements from the brain of active, moving horses in real time. The system is opening a gateway into the way horses think and react, the research team said.

“We’re already using the system to detect how, when, and where a horse is directing its mental attention, and we’re preparing to apply it toward welfare research and the detection of emotions, as well,” said Hugo Cousillas, PhD, of the University of Rennes, who studied in collaboration with Martine Hausberger, PhD, also of the University of Rennes