Automatic determination of EMG-contaminated components and validation of independent component analysis using EEG during pharmacologic paralysis

Sean Fitzgibbon, Dylan DeLosAngeles, Trent Lewis, David Powers, Tyler Grummett, Emma Whitham, Lawrence Ward, John Willoughby, Kenneth Pope

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    47 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Objective: Validate independent component analysis (ICA) for removal of EMG contamination from EEG, and demonstrate a heuristic, based on the gradient of EEG spectra (slope of graph of log EEG power vs log frequency, 7–70 Hz) from paralysed awake humans, to automatically identify and remove components that are predominantly EMG. Methods: We studied the gradient of EMG-free EEG spectra to quantitatively inform the choice of threshold. Then, pre-existing EEG from 3 disparate experimental groups was examined before and after applying the heuristic to validate that the heuristic preserved neurogenic activity (Berger effect, auditory odd ball, visual and auditory steady state responses). Results: (1) ICA-based EMG removal diminished EMG contamination up to approximately 50 Hz, (2) residual EMG contamination using automatic selection was similar to manual selection, and (3) task-induced cortical activity remained, was enhanced, or was revealed using the ICA-based methodology. Conclusion: This study further validates ICA as a powerful technique for separating and removing myogenic signals from EEG. Automatic processing based on spectral gradients to exclude EMG-containing components is a conceptually simple and valid technique. Significance: This study strengthens ICA as a technique to remove EMG contamination from EEG whilst preserving neurogenic activity to 50 Hz.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1781-1793
    Number of pages13
    JournalClinical Neurophysiology
    Volume127
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Mar 2016

    Keywords

    • Alpha rhythms
    • Electroencephalogram
    • Electromyogram
    • Neuromuscular paralysis
    • Oddball
    • Photic stimulation
    • Steady state responses

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