Brain Evoked Response Qualification Using Multi-set Consensus
Clustering: Toward Single-trial EEG Analysis
Abstract
Objective: Scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) provides a substantial
amount of data about information processing in the human brain. In the
context of conventional event-related potential (ERP analysis), it is
typically assumed that individual trials share similar properties and
stem from comparable neural sources, especially when employing
group-level methods (including cluster analysis). However, those group
analyses can miss important information about the relevant neural
process due to a rough estimation of the brain activities of individual
subjects while selecting a fixed time window for all the subjects.
Method: We designed a multi-set consensus clustering method to examine
cognitive processes at the single-trial level. The obtained clusters for
the trials were processed via consensus clustering at the individual
subject level. The proposed method effectively identified the time
window of interest for each individual subject. Results: The proposed
method was applied to real EEG data from the active visual oddball task
experiment to qualify the P3 component. Our early findings disclosed
that the estimated time windows for individual subjects can provide more
precise ERP identification than considering a fixed time window for all
subjects. Moreover, based on standardized measurement error and
established bootstrap for single-trial EEG, our assessments revealed
suitable stability for the calculated scores for the identified P3
component. Significance: The new method provides a more realistic and
information-driven understanding of the single trials’ contribution
towards identifying the ERP of interest in individual ERP potential
data.