According to the American Friends of Tel Aviv University, the electrode's developer Professor Yael Hanein created the device as an alternative to electromyography -- an "uncomfortable and unpleasant medical procedure" that requires electrodes stuck directly into muscle tissue or unseemly surface electrodes and sticky gel. "Our tattoo permits patients to carry on with their daily routines, while the electrode monitors their muscle and nerve activity," Prof. Hanein explained. "The idea is: stick it on and forget about it." Beyond rehabilitation, Hanein believes the device could be used to study emotional responses by tracking a user's facial expressions through the electrical signals in their facial muscles. While other researchers study emotions through facial recognition software or even low-tech solutions like subjective questionnaires, Prof. Hanein's thinks his team has come up with a much more convenient solution.