Automatic Detection of Epileptiform Events in EEG by a Three-Stage Procedure Based on Artificial Neural Networks

Construction of tunable radial basis function networks using orthogonal forward selection

An orthogonal forward selection (OFS) algorithm based on leave-one-out (LOO) criteria is proposed for the construction of radial basis function (RBF) networks with tunable nodes. Each stage of the construction process determines an RBF node, namely, its center vector and diagonal covariance matrix, by minimizing the LOO statistics. For regression application, the LOO criterion is chosen to be the LOO mean-square error, while the LOO misclassification rate is adopted in two-class classification application. This OFS-LOO algorithm is computationally efficient, and it is capable of constructing parsimonious RBF networks that generalize well. Moreover, the proposed algorithm is fully automatic, and the user does not need to specify a termination criterion for the construction process. The effectiveness of the proposed RBF network construction procedure is demonstrated using examples taken from both regression and classification applications.

Automatic classification of athletes with residual functional deficits following concussion by means of EEG signal using support vector machine

There is a growing body of knowledge indicating long-lasting residual electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities in concussed athletes that may persist up to 10-year postinjury. Most often, these abnormalities are initially overlooked using traditional concussion assessment tools. Accordingly, premature return to sport participation may lead to recurrent episodes of concussion, increasing the risk of recurrent concussions with more severe consequences. Sixty-one athletes at high risk for concussion (i.e., collegiate rugby and football players) were recruited and underwent EEG baseline assessment. Thirty of these athletes suffered from concussion and were retested at day 30 postinjury. A number of task-related EEG recordings were conducted. A novel classification algorithm, the support vector machine (SVM), was applied as a classifier to identify residual functional abnormalities in athletes suffering from concussion using a multichannel EEG data set. The total accuracy of the classifier using the 10 features was 77.1%. The classifier has a high sensitivity of 96.7% (linear SVM), 80.0% (nonlinear SVM), and a relatively lower but acceptable selectivity of 69.1% (linear SVM) and 75.0% (nonlinear SVM). The major findings of this report are as follows: 1) discriminative features were observed at theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands, 2) the minimal redundancy relevance method was identified as being superior to the univariate t -test method in selecting features for the model calculation, 3) the EEG features selected for the classification model are linked to temporal and occipital areas, and 4) postural parameters influence EEG data set and can be used as discriminative features for the classification model. Overall, this report provides sufficient evidence that 10 EEG features selected for final analysis and SVM may be potentially used in clinical practice for automatic classification of athletes with residual brain functional abnormalities following a concussion episode.

Epileptic EEG detection using neural networks and post-classification

Electroencephalogram (EEG) has established itself as an important means of identifying and analyzing epileptic seizure activity in humans. In most cases, identification of the epileptic EEG signal is done manually by skilled professionals, who are small in number. In this paper, we try to automate the detection process. We use wavelet transform for feature extraction and obtain statistical parameters from the decomposed wavelet coefficients. A feed-forward backpropagating artificial neural network (ANN) is used for the classification. We use genetic algorithm for choosing the training set and also implement a post-classification stage using harmonic weights to increase the accuracy. Average specificity of 99.19%, sensitivity of 91.29% and selectivity of 91.14% are obtained.

Detection of signs of brain dysfunction in epileptic children by recognition of transient changes in the correlation of seizure-free EEG

Seizure-free EEG signals recorded from epileptic children were compared with EEG signals recorded from normal children. The comparison was based on the detection of transient events characterized by decrease in the correlation between different traces. For this purpose, a conceptually and mathematically simple method was applied. Two clear and remarkable phenomena, able to quantitatively discriminate between the two groups of subjects, were evidenced, with high statistical significance. In fact, it was observed that: (a) The number of events for the epileptic group was larger; (b) Applying restrictive criteria for event definition, the number of subjects in the epileptic group presenting events was larger. The results support the hypothesis of a decrease in brain correlation in children with epilepsy under treatment. This confirms the efficacy of the EEG signal in evaluating cortical functional differences not visible by visual inspection, independently of the cause (epilepsy or drugs), and demonstrate the specific effectiveness of the analysis method applied.

Detection of focal epileptiform events in the EEG by spatio-temporal dipole clustering

OBJECTIVE

Methods for the detection of epileptiform events can be broadly divided into two main categories: temporal detection methods that exploit the EEG's temporal characteristics, and spatial detection methods that base detection on the results of an implicit or explicit source analysis. We describe how the framework of a spatial detection method was extended to improve its performance by including temporal information. This results in a method that provides (i) automated localization of an epileptogenic focus and (ii) detection of focal epileptiform events in an EEG recording. For the detection, only one threshold value needs to be set.

METHODS

The method comprises five consecutive steps: (1) dipole source analysis in a moving window, (2) automatic selection of focal brain activity, (3) dipole clustering to arrive at the identification of the epileptiform cluster, (4) derivation of a spatio-temporal template of the epileptiform activity, and (5) template matching. Routine EEG recordings from eight paediatric patients with focal epilepsy were labelled independently by two experts. The method was evaluated in terms of (i) ability to identify the epileptic focus, (ii) validity of the derived template, and (iii) detection performance. The clustering performance was evaluated using a leave-one-out cross validation. Detection performance was evaluated using Precision-Recall curves and compared to the performance of two temporal (mimetic and wavelet based) and one spatial (dipole analysis based) detection methods.

RESULTS

The method succeeded in identifying the epileptogenic focus in seven of the eight recordings. For these recordings, the mean distance between the epileptic focus estimated by the method and the region indicated by the labelling of the experts was 8mm. Except for two EEG recordings where the dipole clustering step failed, the derived template corresponded to the epileptiform activity marked by the experts. Over the eight EEGs, the method showed a mean sensitivity and selectivity of 92 and 77%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The method allows automated localization of the epileptogenic focus and shows good agreement with the region indicated by the labelling of the experts. If the dipole clustering step is successful, the method allows a detection of the focal epileptiform events, and gave a detection performance comparable or better to that of the other methods.

SIGNIFICANCE

The identification and quantification of epileptiform events is of considerable importance in the diagnosis of epilepsy. Our method allows the automatic identification of the epileptic focus, which is of value in epilepsy surgery. The method can also be used as an offline exploration tool for focal EEG activity, displaying the dipole clusters and corresponding time series.

Spike separation from EEG/MEG data using morphological filter and wavelet transform

In the analysis of epileptic electroencephalographic (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) data, spike separation is diagnostically important because localization of epileptic focus often depends on accurate extraction of spiky activity from the raw data. In this paper, we present a method to automatically extract spikes using the wavelet transform combined with morphological filtering based on a circular structuring element. Our experimental results have shown that this method is highly effective in spike separation. Comparisons with the wavelet, bandpass filter, empirical mode decomposition (EMD), and independent component analysis (ICA) methods show that the new method is more effective in estimating both spike amplitudes and locations.

A study on fuzzy C-means clustering-based systems in automatic spike detection

In this study, different systems based on the fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering algorithm are utilized for the detection of epileptic spikes in electroencephalogram (EEG) records. The systems are constructed as either single or two-stages. In contrast to single-stage systems, the two-stage system comprises a pre-classifier stage realized by a neural network. The FCM based two-stage system is also compared to a similar system implemented using the K-means clustering algorithm. The results imply that an FCM based two-stage system should be preferred as the spike detection system.

Multiclass support vector machines for EEG-signals classification

In this paper, we proposed the multiclass support vector machine (SVM) with the error-correcting output codes for the multiclass electroencephalogram (EEG) signals classification problem. The probabilistic neural network (PNN) and multilayer perceptron neural network were also tested and benchmarked for their performance on the classification of the EEG signals. Decision making was performed in two stages: feature extraction by computing the wavelet coefficients and the Lyapunov exponents and classification using the classifiers trained on the extracted features. The purpose was to determine an optimum classification scheme for this problem and also to infer clues about the extracted features. Our research demonstrated that the wavelet coefficients and the Lyapunov exponents are the features which well represent the EEG signals and the multiclass SVM and PNN trained on these features achieved high classification accuracies.

A Kalman filter based methodology for EEG spike enhancement

In this work, we present a methodology for spike enhancement in electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings. Our approach takes advantage of the non-stationarity nature of the EEG signal using a time-varying autoregressive model. The time-varying coefficients of autoregressive model are estimated using the Kalman filter. The results show considerable improvement in signal-to-noise ratio and significant reduction of the number of false positives.

EEG Transient Event Detection and Classification Using Association Rules

In this paper, a methodology for the automated detection and classification of transient events in electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings is presented. It is based on association rule mining and classifies transient events into four categories: epileptic spikes, muscle activity, eye blinking activity, and sharp alpha activity. The methodology involves four stages: 1) transient event detection; 2) clustering of transient events and feature extraction; 3) feature discretization and feature subset selection; and 4) association rule mining and classification of transient events. The methodology is evaluated using 25 EEG recordings, and the best obtained accuracy was 87.38%. The proposed approach combines high accuracy with the ability to provide interpretation for the decisions made, since it is based on a set of association rules.

Seizure detection algorithm for neonates based on wave-sequence analysis

OBJECTIVE

The description and evaluation of the performance of a new real-time seizure detection algorithm in the newborn infant.

METHODS

The algorithm includes parallel fragmentation of EEG signal into waves; wave-feature extraction and averaging; elementary, preliminary and final detection. The algorithm detects EEG waves with heightened regularity, using wave intervals, amplitudes and shapes. The performance of the algorithm was assessed with the use of event-based and liberal and conservative time-based approaches and compared with the performance of Gotman's and Liu's algorithms.

RESULTS

The algorithm was assessed on multi-channel EEG records of 55 neonates including 17 with seizures. The algorithm showed sensitivities ranging 83-95% with positive predictive values (PPV) 48-77%. There were 2.0 false positive detections per hour. In comparison, Gotman's algorithm (with 30s gap-closing procedure) displayed sensitivities of 45-88% and PPV 29-56%; with 7.4 false positives per hour and Liu's algorithm displayed sensitivities of 96-99%, and PPV 10-25%; with 15.7 false positives per hour.

CONCLUSIONS

The wave-sequence analysis based algorithm displayed higher sensitivity, higher PPV and a substantially lower level of false positives than two previously published algorithms.

SIGNIFICANCE

The proposed algorithm provides a basis for major improvements in neonatal seizure detection and monitoring.