An apparatus for measuring scalp potential is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of sensors and a pre-amplifier coupled to these sensors. The sensors are adapted to measure a raw scalp potential measurement though a hair and air interface, and may be considered as a difference, reference or common measurement. The interface presents a high and variable source impedance coupling to the scalp. The pre-amplifier is adapted to have an input impedance significantly higher than that presented by the source interface, and receives the raw scalp potential measurement to produce a pre-amplified scalp potential measurement.