CNN-based framework using spatial dropping for enhanced interpretation of neural activity in motor imagery classification.

Interpretation of brain activity responses using motor imagery (MI) paradigms is vital for medical diagnosis and monitoring. Assessed by machine learning techniques, identification of imagined actions is hindered by substantial intra- and inter-subject variability. Here, we develop an architecture of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) with an enhanced interpretation of the spatial brain neural patterns that mainly contribute to the classification of MI tasks. Two methods of 2D-feature extraction from EEG data are contrasted: Power Spectral Density and Continuous Wavelet Transform. For preserving the spatial interpretation of extracting EEG patterns, we project the multi-channel data using a topographic interpolation. Besides, we include a spatial dropping algorithm to remove the learned weights that reflect the localities not engaged with the elicited brain response. We evaluate two labeled scenarios of MI tasks: bi-class and three-class. Obtained results in an MI database show that the thresholding strategy combined with Continuous Wavelet Transform improves the accuracy and enhances the interpretability of CNN architecture, showing that the highest contribution clusters over the sensorimotor cortex with a differentiated behavior of rhythms [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].

Influence of Patient-Specific Head Modeling on EEG Source Imaging.

Electromagnetic source imaging (ESI) techniques have become one of the most common alternatives for understanding cognitive processes in the human brain and for guiding possible therapies for neurological diseases. However, ESI accuracy strongly depends on the forward model capabilities to accurately describe the subject's head anatomy from the available structural data. Attempting to improve the ESI performance, we enhance the brain structure model within the individual-defined forward problem formulation, combining the head geometry complexity of the modeled tissue compartments and the prior knowledge of the brain tissue morphology. We validate the proposed methodology using 25 subjects, from which a set of magnetic-resonance imaging scans is acquired, extracting the anatomical priors and an electroencephalography signal set needed for validating the ESI scenarios. Obtained results confirm that incorporating patient-specific head models enhances the performed accuracy and improves the localization of focal and deep sources.

Enhanced Data Covariance Estimation Using Weighted Combination of Multiple Gaussian Kernels for Improved M/EEG Source Localization.

In the recent past, estimating brain activity with magneto/electroencephalography (M/EEG) has been increasingly employed as a noninvasive technique for understanding the brain functions and neural dynamics. However, one of the main open problems when dealing with M/EEG data is its non-Gaussian and nonstationary structure. In this paper, we introduce a methodology for enhancing the data covariance estimation using a weighted combination of multiple Gaussian kernels, termed WM-MK, that relies on the Kullback-Leibler divergence for associating each kernel weight to its relevance. From the obtained results of validation on nonstationary and non-Gaussian brain activity (simulated and real-world EEG data), WM-MK proves that the accuracy of the source estimation raises by more effectively exploiting the measured nonlinear structures with high time and space complexity.

Instance-Based Representation Using Multiple Kernel Learning for Predicting Conversion to Alzheimer Disease.

The early detection of Alzheimer's disease and quantification of its progression poses multiple difficulties for machine learning algorithms. Two of the most relevant issues are related to missing data and results interpretability. To deal with both issues, we introduce a methodology to predict conversion of mild cognitive impairment patients to Alzheimer's from structural brain MRI volumes. First, we use morphological measures of each brain structure to build an instance-based feature mapping that copes with missed follow-up visits. Then, the extracted multiple feature mappings are combined into a single representation through the convex combination of reproducing kernels. The weighting parameters per structure are tuned based on the maximization of the centered-kernel alignment criterion. We evaluate the proposed methodology on a couple of well-known classification machines employing the ADNI database devoted to assessing the combined prognostic value of several AD biomarkers. The obtained experimental results show that our proposed method of Instance-based representation using multiple kernel learning enables detecting mild cognitive impairment as well as predicting conversion to Alzheimers disease within three years from the initial screening. Besides, the brain structures with larger combination weights are directly related to memory and cognitive functions.

Reconstruction of Neural Activity from EEG Data Using Dynamic Spatiotemporal Constraints.

We present a novel iterative regularized algorithm (IRA) for neural activity reconstruction that explicitly includes spatiotemporal constraints, performing a trade-off between space and time resolutions. For improving the spatial accuracy provided by electroencephalography (EEG) signals, we explore a basis set that describes the smooth, localized areas of potentially active brain regions. In turn, we enhance the time resolution by adding the Markovian assumption for brain activity estimation at each time period. Moreover, to deal with applications that have either distributed or localized neural activity, the spatiotemporal constraints are expressed through [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] norms, respectively. For the purpose of validation, we estimate the neural reconstruction performance in time and space separately. Experimental testing is carried out on artificial data, simulating stationary and non-stationary EEG signals. Also, validation is accomplished on two real-world databases, one holding Evoked Potentials and another with EEG data of focal epilepsy. Moreover, responses of functional magnetic resonance imaging for the former EEG data have been measured in advance, allowing to contrast our findings. Obtained results show that the [Formula: see text]-based IRA produces a spatial resolution that is comparable to the one achieved by some widely used sparse-based estimators of brain activity. At the same time, the [Formula: see text]-based IRA outperforms other similar smooth solutions, providing a spatial resolution that is lower than the sparse [Formula: see text]-based solution. As a result, the proposed IRA is a promising method for improving the accuracy of brain activity reconstruction.

Feature extraction by statistical contact potentials and wavelet transform for predicting subcellular localizations in gram negative bacterial proteins.

Predicting the localization of a protein has become a useful practice for inferring its function. Most of the reported methods to predict subcellular localizations in Gram-negative bacterial proteins make use of standard protein representations that generally do not take into account the distribution of the amino acids and the structural information of the proteins. Here, we propose a protein representation based on the structural information contained in the pairwise statistical contact potentials. The wavelet transform decodes the information contained in the primary structure of the proteins, allowing the identification of patterns along the proteins, which are used to characterize the subcellular localizations. Then, a support vector machine classifier is trained to categorize them. Cellular compartments like periplasm and extracellular medium are difficult to predict, having a high false negative rate. The wavelet-based method achieves an overall high performance while maintaining a low false negative rate, particularly, on "periplasm" and "extracellular medium". Our results suggest the proposed protein characterization is a useful alternative to representing and predicting protein sequences over the classical and cutting edge protein depictions.

Entropy-based multichannel measure of stationarity for characterization of motor imagery patterns.

We propose a novel approach for measuring the stationarity level of multichannel time-series. This measure is based on stationarity definition over time-varying spectra and aims to quantify the relationship between local (single-channel dynamics) and global (multichannel dynamics) stationarity. With the purpose of separate among several motor/imagery tasks, we asssume that movement imagination implies an increase on the EEG variability, consequently, as discriminant features, we first compute the non-stationary components of input signals, and we further obtain its stationary level throughout the proposed measure. To assess the separability level of the proposed features, we employ the t-student test. Obtained results evidence that our measure is able to accurately detect brain areas projected on the scalp where motor tasks are performed.

Fractionated electrograms and rotors detection in chronic atrial fibrillation using model-based clustering.

The identification of atrial fibrillation (AF) substrates is needed to improve ablation therapy guided by electrograms, although mechanisms that sustain AF are not fully understood. Detection of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) is used for this purpose. Nonetheless, efficacy of this method is inadequate in the case of chronic AF. Recent hypothesis proposes the rotors as fibrillatory substrate. Novel approaches seek to relate CFAE with rotor; nevertheless, such methods are not able to identify the associated substrate. Furthermore, the patterns that characterize CFAE generated by rotors remain unknown. Thus, tracking of rotors is an unsolved issue. In this paper, we propose a non-supervised method to find patterns associated with fibrillatory substrates in chronic AF. We extracted two features based on local activation wave detection and one feature based on non-linear dynamics. Gaussian mixture model-based clustering was used to discriminate CFAE patterns. Resulting clusters are visualized in an electroanatomic map. We assessed the proposed method in a real database labeled according to the level of fractionation and in a simulated episode of chronic AF in which a rotor was detected. Our results indicate that the method proposed can separate different levels of fractionation in CFAE, and provide evidence that clustering can be used to locate the vortex of the rotors. Provided approach can support ablation therapy procedures by means of CFAE patterns discrimination.

Feature selection for discrimination of fractionation levels in atrial electrograms.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) guided by complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) is associated with a high AF termination rate in paroxysmal AF, but not in persistent. CFAE does not always identify favorable sites for persistent AF ablation. Studies suggest that only high fractionation level should be used as a target site for ablation. Nonetheless, there are not a standardized criterion to defined fractionation levels. Therefore, a better characterization of the signal is required providing a set of more powerful features that should be extracted from CFAE. Due to the apparent difference among fractionation classes in terms of their stochastic variability, we test time-domain and time-frequency based feature extraction approaches. Also, we carried out the symmetrical uncertainty-based feature selection to determine the most relevant features which improve discrimination of fractionation levels. Obtained results on a tested real electrogram database show that most relevant features in time-domain are related with time intervals and not with amplitudes. Nonetheless, time-frequency features obtained more information from the signal and this representation is likely a better suitable discriminating approach, particularly to detect high fractionated electrograms with a sensitivity and specificity of 83.0% and 93.6%, respectively.

Identification of brain networks using time-varying spatial constraints of neural activity reconstruction.

Electroencephalographic (EEG) data give a direct non-invasive measurement of neural brain activity. Nevertheless, the common assumption about EEG stationarity (time-invariant process) is a strong limitation for understanding real behavior of underlying neural networks. Here, we propose an approach for finding networks of brain regions connected by functional associations (functional connectivity) that vary along the time. To this end, we compute a set of a priori spatial dictionaries that represent brain areas with similar temporal stochastic dynamics, and then, we model relationship between areas as a time-varying process. We test our approach in both simulated and real EEG data where results show that inherent interpretability provided by the time-varying process can be useful to describe underlying neural networks.

Kernel-based atlas image selection for brain tissue segmentation.

We propose a new Kernel-based Atlas Image Selection computed in the Embedding Representation space (termed KAISER) aiming to support labeling of brain tissue on 3D magnetic resonance (MR) images. KAISER approach provides efficient feature extraction from MR volumes based on an introduced inter-slice kernel (ISK). Thus, using the ISK matrix eigendecomposition, the inherent structure of data distribution is accentuated through estimation of low dimensional compact space where every pair-wise image similarity can be better measured. We compare our proposal against the whole-population atlas, randomly and demographically selected multiatlas approaches in a four-tissue image labeling task. Obtained results show that the KAISER approach outperforms other alternative techniques (98% Dice index similarity against 94%), while exhibiting better repeatability.

Multiobjective optimization-based design of wearable electrocardiogram monitoring systems.

Nowadays, the use of Wearable User Interfaces has been extensively growing in medical monitoring applications. However, production and manufacture of prototypes without automation tools may lead to non viable results since it is often common to find an optimization problem where several variables are in conflict with each other. Thus, it is necessary to design a strategy for balancing the variables and constraints, systematizing the design in order to reduce the risks that are present when it is exclusively guided by the intuition of the developer. This paper proposes a framework for designing wearable ECG monitoring systems using multi-objective optimization. The main contributions of this work are the model to automate the design process, including a mathematical expression relating the principal variables that make up the criteria of functionality and wearability. We also introduce a novel yardstick for deciding the location of electrodes, based on reducing interference from ECG by maximizing the electrode-skin contact.

Tensor-product kernel-based representation encoding joint MRI view similarity.

To support 3D magnetic resonance image (MRI) analysis, a marginal image similarity (MIS) matrix holding MR inter-slice relationship along every axis view (Axial, Coronal, and Sagittal) can be estimated. However, mutual inference from MIS view information poses a difficult task since relationships between axes are nonlinear. To overcome this issue, we introduce a Tensor-Product Kernel-based Representation (TKR) that allows encoding brain structure patterns due to patient differences, gathering all MIS matrices into a single joint image similarity framework. The TKR training strategy is carried out into a low dimensional projected space to get less influence of voxel-derived noise. Obtained results for classifying the considered patient categories (gender and age) on real MRI database shows that the proposed TKR training approach outperforms the conventional voxel-wise sum of squared differences. The proposed approach may be useful to support MRI clustering and similarity inference tasks, which are required on template-based image segmentation and atlas construction.

Three-layer-isotropic skull conductivity representation in the EEG forward problem using spherical head models.

We study the influence of different conductivity models within the framework of electroencephalogram (EEG) source localization on the white matter and skull areas. Particularly, we investigate five different spherical models having either isotropic or anisotropic conductivity for both considered areas. To this end, the anisotropic finite difference reciprocity method is used for solving the EEG forward problem. We evaluate a model of a numeric skull conductivity in terms of the minimum dipole localization/orientation error. As a result, both considered models of the skull reach the lowest dipole localization error (less than 6 mm), namely: i) single anisotropic layer and ii) three isotropic layers (hard bone/spongy bone/hard bone). Additionally, two different electrode configurations (10-20 and 10-10 systems) are tested showing that the error decreases almost as much as twice for the latter one though the computational burden significantly increases.

Influence of anisotropic white matter modeling on EEG source localization.

We study the influence of the anisotropic white matter within the ElectroEncephaloGraphy source localization problem. To this end, we consider three cases of the anisotropic white matter modeled in two concrete cases: by fixed or variable ratio. We extract information about highly anisotropic areas of the white matter from real Diffusion Weighted Imaging data. To validate the compared anisotropic models, we introduce the localization dipole and orientation errors. Obtained results show that the white matter model with a fixed anisotropic ratio leads to values of dipole localization error close to 1cm and may be enough in those cases avoiding localized analysis of neural brain activity. In contrast, modeling based on the anisotropic variable rate assumption becomes important in tasks regarding analysis and localization of deep sources neighboring the white matter tissue.

Very long-term ECG monitoring patch with improved functionality and wearability.

Heart activity monitoring is an important task for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, development of long-term, wearable electrodes remains an open issue. In fact, adhesion ability and energy consumption while preserving aesthetics is one of the major concerns to implement a minimally invasive monitoring system that measures and transmits electrocardiographic signals (ECG) during long-term periods of time. Based on the concepts of functionality, wearability, and resources, we develop a new long-term ECG monitoring system under the wear-and-forget principle. We also propose a system model of the electrode-skin interface that performs real-time measurements with a minimally invasive effect when compared with another competitive and implantable systems. As a result, testing of designed prototype shows that the developed very long-term ECG monitoring patch improves energy consumption and adhesion time up to 40 days.

Wearable and superhydrophobic hardware for ambulatory biopotential acquisition.

Wearable monitoring devices are a promising trend for ambulatory and real time biosignal processing, because they improve access and coverage by means of comfortable sensors, with real-time communication via mobile networks. In this paper, we present a garment for ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring, a smart t-shirt with a textile electrode that conducts electricity and has a coating designed to preserve the user's hygiene, allowing long-term mobile measurements. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles were applied on the surface of the textile electrodes to preserve conductivity and impart superhydrophobic properties. A model to explain these results is proposed. The best result of this study is obtained when the contact angles between the fluid and the fabric exceeded 150°, while the electrical resistivity remained below 5 Ω·cm, allowing an acquisition of high quality electrocardiograms in moving patients. Thus, this tool represents an interesting alternative for medium and long-term measurements, preserving the textile feeling of clothing and working under motion conditions.

Local binary fitting energy solution by graph cuts for MRI segmentation.

This paper proposes a new solution for local binary fitting energy minimization based on graph cuts for automatic brain structure segmentation on magnetic resonance images. The approach establishes an effective way to embed the energy formulation into a directed graph, such that the energy is minimized by maximizing the graph flow. Proposed and conventional solutions are compared by segmenting the well-known BrainWeb synthetic brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging database. Achieved results show an improvement on the computational cost (about 10 times shorter) while maintaining the segmentation accuracy (96%).

Feature relevance analysis supporting automatic motor imagery discrimination in EEG based BCI systems.

Recently, there have been many efforts to develop Brain Computer Interface (BCI) systems, allowing identifying and discriminating brain activity, as well as, support the control of external devices, and to understand cognitive behaviors. In this work, a feature relevance analysis approach based on an eigen decomposition method is proposed to support automatic Motor Imagery (MI) discrimination in electroencephalography signals for BCI systems. We select a set of features representing the best as possible the studied process. For such purpose, a variability study is performed based on traditional Principal Component Analysis. EEG signals modelling is carried out by feature estimation of three frequency-based and one time-based. Our approach provides testing over a well-known MI dataset. Attained results show that presented algorithm can be used as tool to support discrimination of MI brain activity, obtaining acceptable results in comparison to state of the art approaches.

Novel heuristic search for ventricular arrhythmia detection using normalized cut clustering.

Processing of the long-term ECG Holter recordings for accurate arrhythmia detection is a problem that has been addressed in several approaches. However, there is not an outright method for heartbeat classification able to handle problems such as the large amount of data and highly unbalanced classes. This work introduces a heuristic-search-based clustering to discriminate among ventricular cardiac arrhythmias in Holter recordings. The proposed method is posed under the normalized cut criterion, which iteratively seeks for the nodes to be grouped into the same cluster. Searching procedure is carried out in accordance to the introduced maximum similarity value. Since our approach is unsupervised, a procedure for setting the initial algorithm parameters is proposed by fixing the initial nodes using a kernel density estimator. Results are obtained from MIT/BIH arrhythmia database providing heartbeat labelling. As a result, proposed heuristic-search-based clustering shows an adequate performance, even in the presence of strong unbalanced classes.