EEG / ERP data available for free public download (updated 2023)

History of this page

Since there was no public database for EEG data to our knowledge (as of 2002), we had decided to release some of our data on the Internet. We have kept the page as it seems to still be usefull (if you know any database or if you want us to add a link to data you are distributing on the Internet, send us an email at arnosccn.ucsd.edu).

Data originally distributed on this page

On this page was a collection of 32-channel data from 14 subjects (7 males, 7 females) acquired using the Neuroscan software. Subjects are performing a go-nogo categorization task and a go-no recognition task on natural photographs presented very briefly (20 ms). Each subject responded to a total of 2500 trials. Data is CZ referenced and is sampled at 1000 Hz (total data size is 4Gb; more details are given later). The original distribution is available here for historical purposes. The current data is availlable on NEMAR and Openneuro (same copy).

The OpenNeuro and NEMAR databases

OpenNeuro is well known data archive created by Poldrack and his team at Stanford University. OpenNeuro is a free and open platform that allows researchers to upload and share neuroimaging data. Submitted datasets can then be analyzed by anyone who logs in. OpenNeuro has been designated by the NIMH as a repository for data collected from BRAIN Initiative projects as well as other types of human neuroimaging data; however, to date workflows only exist for fMRI data. This means that even if other types of brain scans were uploaded to OpenNeuro, there is no infrastructure in place for data analysis. We invite you to explore EEG BIDS formatted datasets available on OpenNeuro.

Partnering with Stanford University, we have received $4.4M from NIMH to create the Neuroelectromagnetic Data Archive and Tools Resource (NEMAR). Researchers will create the Neuroelectromagnetic Data Archive and Tools Resource at San Diego Supercomputer Center. The NEMAR platform expands OpenNeuro capabilities for MEEG researchers.

Other data available on the Internet

Datasets in Matlab (from the EEGLAB software tutorial) are

• Mind wandering: 2 subjects with 11 sessions each performing a mind wandering experiment. See the paper here (data published 2017).
• Psychophysics (4Mb): One subject (80 trials) from a visual attention task (32-channel; Matlab format).
• Psychophysics (450Mb): 5 subjects with and 2 conditions (64 channels, Matlab format).
• Psychophysics (2.3Gb): modified STERN experiment with 13 subjects (text file contain description) using in EEGLAB tutorial.
• Psychophysics, various tasks (1Gb): more than 100 datasets available.

Other EEG databases or datasets known to us are

• Temple University hospital repository: 12,000 patients 16-channel EEG EDF files
• EEG dataset with 109 subjects published on PhysioNet: From Gerwin Schalk's team at the Wadworth center in Albany, NY.
• EEG database for BCI applications: Various experiments are featured.
• Psychophysics (700 Mb): 122 subjects recorded using 64 channel (Alcoholic and Controls performing a visual matching task). The limitation of this data is that only data epochs (0 to 1 second after stimulus presentation) is available. After decompressing the files, Matlab scripts to import to EEGLAB are available here (single epoch import and full subject import).
• DEAP dataset: EEG (and other modalities) emotion recognition.
• Epilepsy data: A very comprehensive database of epilepsy data files.
• Epilepsy data: a few small files (text format).
• Sleep data: Sleep EEG from 8 subjects (EDF format).
• Continuous EEG: few seconds of 64-channel EEG recording from an alcoholic patient.
• Resting state EEG: resting-state EEG and EOG with both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions recorded from 10 participants.

Some datasets used in Brain Computer Interface competitions are also available at

• BCI Competition I, II, III and IV Challenges

You may also look at a message ciculated on the EEGLABLIST that may point to other databases.