A fast and reliable method for simultaneous waveform, amplitude and latency estimation of single-trial EEG/MEG data

PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e38292. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038292. Epub 2012 Jun 25.

Abstract

The amplitude and latency of single-trial EEG/MEG signals may provide valuable information concerning human brain functioning. In this article we propose a new method to reliably estimate single-trial amplitude and latency of EEG/MEG signals. The advantages of the method are fourfold. First, no a-priori specified template function is required. Second, the method allows for multiple signals that may vary independently in amplitude and/or latency. Third, the method is less sensitive to noise as it models data with a parsimonious set of basis functions. Finally, the method is very fast since it is based on an iterative linear least squares algorithm. A simulation study shows that the method yields reliable estimates under different levels of latency variation and signal-to-noise ratioÕs. Furthermore, it shows that the existence of multiple signals can be correctly determined. An application to empirical data from a choice reaction time study indicates that the method describes these data accurately.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Computer Simulation
  • Electroencephalography*
  • Humans
  • Magnetoencephalography*
  • Models, Statistical*
  • Reaction Time / physiology*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Signal-To-Noise Ratio