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Biomedical subjects

K J Blinowska

Publications and source records attributed to K J Blinowska.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Efficient application of Internet databases for new signal processing methods.

This paper highlights the ways in which Internet databases may be efficiently used to foster the application of progress in biomedical sciences via data sharing and new algorithms. Employing the Internet to accelerate the pace of interdisciplinary research has significant potential, yet as with all new technologies, the first applications often cause more disappointment than positive outcomes. We discuss examples of solutions to the basic issues: (1) finding the relevant datasets (in portals connected via the Inter-neuro infrastructure), (2) reading the particular format in which the data was stored (using the SignalML language for metadescription of time series), (3) choosing the right method for the data analysis (we provide a brief review of the methods used for the analysis of EEGs, and discuss two of them in detail: Directed Transfer Function and Matching Pursuit), and (4) sharing the software for chosen methods of analysis (via repositories such as the eeg.pl thematic portal).

Algorithms↗

Propagation of EEG activity in the beta and gamma band during movement imagery in humans.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the paper was the determination of electrical brain activity propagation in sensorimotor areas during hand movement imagery. METHODS: Right-hand and left-hand movement imagination was studied in three subjects. The 10-channel Multivariate Autoregressive Model (MVAR) was fitted to EEG signals recorded from subsets of electrodes overlying central and related brain areas. By means of the Short-time Directed Transfer Function (SDTF) the propagation of brain activity as a function of frequency and time was found. RESULTS: During imagery the relation between propagations in gamma and beta bands changed significantly for electrodes overlying sensorimotor areas, namely the increase in gamma was accompanied by the decrease in the beta band. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis was put forward that these kinds of changes in flow of electrical brain activity are connected with the specific information processing.

Adolescent↗

Time-frequency analysis of brain electrical activity--adaptive approximations.

OBJECTIVES: We present an approach to time-frequency analysis of bioelectrical signals. METHODS: The method relays on the decomposition of the signal into a set of waveforms that have good localization both in time and in frequency. The waveforms belong to a highly redundant set of functions - allowing for a very accurate description of signal components. RESULTS: Properties of the method are illustrated by simulations and applications to EEG. CONCLUSION: The presented method delivers a common formalism suitable for describing both gross statistical properties of structures present in bioelectrical signals, as well as microstructure of chosen phenomena.

Algorithms↗

A simple system for detection of EEG artifacts in polysomnographic recordings.

We present an efficient parametric system for automatic detection of electroencephalogram (EEG) artifacts in polysomnographic recordings. For each of the selected types of artifacts, a relevant parameter was calculated for a given epoch. If any of these parameters exceeded a threshold, the epoch was marked as an artifact. Performance of the system, evaluated on 18 overnight polysomnographic recordings, revealed concordance with decisions of human experts close to the interexpert agreement and the repeatability of expert's decisions, assessed via a double-blind test. Complete software (Matlab source code) for the presented system is freely available from the Internet at http://brain.fuw.edu.pl/artifacts.

Algorithms↗

Phase and amplitude analysis in time-frequency space--application to voluntary finger movement.

Two methods operating in time-frequency space were applied to analysis of EEG activity accompanying voluntary finger movements. The first one, based on matching pursuit approach provided high-resolution distributions of power in time-frequency space. The phenomena of event related desynchronization (ERD) and synchronization (ERS) were investigated without the need of band-pass filtering. Time evolution of mu- and beta-components was observed in a detailed way. The second method was based on a multichannel autoregressive model (MVAR) adapted for investigation of short-time changes in EEG signal. The direction and spectral content of the EEG activity propagation was estimated by means of short-time directed transfer function (SDTF). The evidence of 'cross-talk' between different areas of motor and sensory cortex was found. The earlier known phenomena, connected with voluntary movements, were confirmed and a new evidence concerning focal ERD/surround ERS and beta activity post-movement synchronization was found.

Algorithms↗

Unbiased high resolution method of EEG analysis in time-frequency space.

Matching Pursuit (MP)--a method of high-resolution signal analysis--is described in the context of other methods operating in time-frequency space. The method relies on an adaptive approximation of a signal by means of waveforms chosen from a very large and redundant dictionary of functions. The MP performance is illustrated by simulations and examples of sleep spindles and slow wave activity analysis. An improvement of the original procedure, relying on the introduction of stochastic dictionaries, is proposed. A comparison of the performance of dyadic and stochastic dictionaries is presented. MP with stochastic dictionaries is characterized by an unmatched resolution in time-frequency space; moreover it allows for parametric description of all (periodic and transient) signal features in the framework of the same formalism. Matching pursuit is especially suitable for analysis of non-stationary signals and is a unique tool for the investigation of dynamic changes of brain activity.

Brain↗

High resolution study of sleep spindles.

OBJECTIVE: Universal high-resolution time-frequency parameterization of sleep EEG structures. METHODS: A new algorithm called Matching Pursuit was used for the decomposition of sleep EEG into waveforms chosen from a large and redundant set of functions. As a result all signal structures were parameterized in terms of their frequency, time occurrence, time span and energy. Slow wave activity and sleep spindles were identified according to neurophysiological criteria and various distributions describing their time evolution, topographical and frequency characteristics were constructed. RESULTS: Two types of sleep spindles of different topological and spectral properties were identified. High time-frequency resolution made possible separation of superimposed spindles. Cross-correlation between high- and low-frequency components of superimposed spindles revealed a fixed time-delay between them, the high-frequency component preceding the low-frequency one. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that processes of generation of both types of sleep spindles are weakly coupled.

Adult↗

Time-frequency analysis of vibrotactile driving responses by matching pursuit.

A new method of time-frequency analysis, based on the Matching Pursuit (MP) algorithm, was used to extract and quantify EEG 'driving' or frequency-following responses produced in human primary somatosensory cortex (SI) by 33 Hz vibrotactile stimulation of the right index fingertip in a single subject. EEG signals were recorded from a 5 x 5 array of electrodes centered over the left hand area, time-locked to repeated presentations of four vibratory stimulus amplitudes. The MP algorithm was used to decompose the edited and and filtered EEG signals into waveforms selected from a large and redundant dictionary. Statistical discrimination of the vibratory stimulus amplitudes was then readily achieved in terms of trial-by-trial measures of response amplitude constructed in automated fashion from the calculated MP parameters. The results were orderly and physiologically coherent, and potentially open the way to correlation of psychophysical magnitude estimates with measures of neurophysiological response on a trial-by-trial basis. The approach developed here appears well suited to detection and characterisation of time dependent or transient target signals embedded in a noisy background.

Algorithms↗

Information flow between hippocampus and related structures during various types of rat's behavior.

The relationships among the CA1 field of hippocampus, the entorhinal-piriform area, the subiculum and the lateral septum were studied in various behavioral states in the rat. The EEG signals recorded simultaneously from chronically implanted electrodes were analyzed by means of a multichannel autoregressive (AR) model. Power spectra, ordinary, multiple and partial coherences, and directed transfer functions were calculated. The method of analysis which took into account all signals simultaneously, not pair-wise, made it possible to estimate the spectral characteristics and the directions of the EEG flow between structures. The pattern of the EEG activity propagation depended on the type of behavior, difficulty of the task performed by the animal, and the phase of the trial. Our results not only confirmed the existence of connections between analyzed structures, but also showed that these connections may have different strengths during various types of behavior.

Animals↗

Introduction to wavelet analysis.

Wavelet transform and multiresolution decomposition are described. Examples of the application of orthogonal wavelet transform to acoustic evoked potentials and otoacoustic emissions (OEA) are given and basic features of wavelet packets and wavelet network methods are characterized. An approach that enables the identification of local signal structures--a generalization of wavelet transform called Matching Pursuit--is presented. In the framework of this method the signal is decomposed into time-frequency 'atoms', which offers a possibility of determination of an 'instantaneous frequency' with the accuracy close to the theoretical limit. The method is illustrated by application to OAE signals. The advantages and limitations of the methods presented are discussed.

Cochlea↗

High resolution time-frequency analysis of otoacoustic emissions.

High resolution time-frequency analysis of OAE signals evoked by stimuli of different strength was performed by means of the Matching Pursuit algorithm. The method relies on adaptive decomposition of a signal into waveforms of well-defined frequency and time localization. Energy of OAE as a function of time and frequency was evaluated for stimuli strength of 35-80 dB SPL. Dynamic characteristics of the signal were constructed. For strong stimuli decrease of the power of high frequency components was found. Matching Pursuit proved to be a method which offers high resolution parametrisation of OAE in time-frequency space and provides excellent possibilities of investigation of the signal generation mechanisms.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

Single evoked potential reconstruction by means of wavelet transform.

We would like to propose a method of single evoked potential (EP) extraction free from assumptions and based on a novel approach--the wavelet representation of the signal. Wavelets were introduced by Grossman and Morlet in 1984. The method is based on the multiresolution signal decomposition. Wavelets are already used for speech recognition, geophysics investigations and fractal analysis. This method seems to be a useful improvement upon Fourier Transform analysis, since it provides simultaneous information on frequency and time localization of the signal. We would like to introduce wavelet formalism for the first time to brain signal analysis. One of the most important problems in this field is the analysis of evoked potentials. This signal has an amplitude several times smaller than EEG, therefore stimulus-synchronized averaging is commonly used. This method is based on several assumptions. Namely it is postulated that: 1) EP are characterized by a deterministic repeatable pattern, 2) EEG has purely stochastic character, 3) EEG and EP are independent. These assumptions have been challenged e.g. the variability of the EP pattern was demonstrated by John (1973) by means of factor analysis. In view of the works of Sayers et al. (1974) and Başar (1988) EP reflects the reorganization of the spontaneous activity under the influence of a stimulus and it is connected with the redistribution of EEG phases. Several attempts to overcome the limitation of the averaging method have been made. Heintze and Künkel (1984) used an autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model to extract evoked potentials from 2 segments. This was possible under two conditions: high signal to noise ratio and clear separation of the EEG and EP spectra.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Algorithms↗

A new method of the description of the information flow in the brain structures.

The paper describes the method of determining direction and frequency content of the brain activity flow. The method was formulated in the framework of the AR model. The transfer function matrix was found for multichannel EEG process. Elements of this matrix, properly normalized, appeared to be good estimators of the propagation direction and spectral properties of the investigated signals. Simulation experiments have shown that the estimator proposed by us unequivocally reveals the direction of the signal flow and is able to distinguish between direct and indirect transfer of information. The method was applied to the signals recorded in the brain structures of the experimental animals and also to the human normal and epileptic EEG. The sensitivity of the method and its usefulness in the neurological and clinical applications was demonstrated.

Animals↗

Non-linear and linear forecasting of the EEG time series.

The method of non-linear forecasting of time series was applied to different simulated signals and EEG in order to check its ability of distinguishing chaotic from noisy time series. The goodness of prediction was estimated, in terms of the correlation coefficient between forecasted and real time series, for non-linear and autoregressive (AR) methods. For the EEG signal both methods gave similar results. It seems that the EEG signal, in spite of its chaotic character, is well described by the AR model.

Algorithms↗

The EEG time series parametrization method in the study of nociception.

A new method of EEG time series parametrization was proposed. The EEG rhythms were described in terms of frequency, amplitude and damping. These parameters were used in multivariate analysis of variance in order to estimate the group differences in terms of Mahalanobis distances. The rhythm diagrams were constructed and their advantages in comparison with averaged power spectra were discussed. The proposed method overcomes the difficulties connected with the arbitrary division of spectrum into the frequency bands. The usefulness of the method in the study of nociception was tested. The effect of nociceptive stimulation in the four brain structures: sensorimotor cortex, ventro-postero-lateral thalamic nuclei, midbrain reticular formation and periaqueductal gray was investigated. The influence of atropine and mecamylamine administered locally was studied.

Algorithms↗

A new method of presentation of the average spectral properties of the EEG time series.

In framework of the AR model the transfer function and the impulse response function of the EEG time series were found. The parameters of the impulse response function were interpreted in terms of: frequencies, damping factors and amplitudes of the hypothetical brain rhythm generators. The method of the rhythm diagrams was proposed to describe the spectral properties of the EEG time series. It makes possible the accurate estimation of the EEG rhythm's frequencies and their intensities, especially weak components hardly visible in the conventional spectral analysis are well distinguished. Rhythm diagrams can be a useful tool in the clinical applications and offer new possibilities in the direct comparison of the results of modeling with the experimental data.

Animals↗

A study of stability of electrocortical rhythm generators.

By means of the autoregressive model the transfer function and the impulse response function were determined and the parameters characterizing electrocortical oscillators were found for the four brain structures of the experimental animals. Different kinds of the representation of these parameters were compared and their sensitivity to the different factors was tested. The advantages of the proposed method over the conventional spectral analysis were demonstrated. Cluster analysis was applied in order to test the stability of the determined basic rhythms. Proposed method seems to be very useful for the investigation of the processes of rhythmical activity generation and control.

Animals↗