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Analysis of tremor in multiple sclerosis using Hilbert-Huang Transform
Neurophysiologie Clinique = Clinical Neurophysiology
|January 19, 2016
Summary
New neurophysiological techniques reveal tremor in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, even without visible shaking. This advanced analysis, using Empirical Mode Decomposition and Hilbert-Huang Transform, helps characterize MS tremor and its potential origins.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Tremor is a common but poorly understood symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Traditional neurophysiological methods like Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) have limitations in characterizing MS tremor.
- Advanced signal processing techniques are needed to better analyze tremor in MS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate tremor characteristics in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using advanced neurophysiological techniques.
- To compare tremor patterns in MS patients with healthy subjects and essential tremor (ET) patients.
- To explore the potential central generators and clinical correlates of tremor in MS.
Main Methods:
- Accelerometric (ACC) and electromyographic (EMG) recordings were obtained from 26 MS patients, 17 healthy subjects (physiological tremor - PT), and 8 ET patients.
- Non-linear Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) combined with Hilbert-Huang Transform (HHT) was used for signal analysis.
- Linear spectral analysis using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) served as a comparative method.
Main Results:
- FFT failed to detect tremor in MS patients, even those with visible tremor.
- EMD-HHT analysis identified tremor-related frequency peaks in 62.5% of MS patients with visible tremor and 40% without visible tremor.
- Tremor characteristics in MS patients were similar to physiological tremor but distinct from essential tremor, suggesting potential central origins or enhanced physiological tremor.
Conclusions:
- Empirical Mode Decomposition-Hilbert-Huang Transform (EMD-HHT) is superior to Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) for detecting and characterizing tremor in multiple sclerosis (MS).
- MS-related tremor may originate from brainstem or cerebellothalamic circuit lesions, or represent an enhanced physiological tremor.
- Visible tremor in MS patients is associated with cerebellar signs and less upper limb motor deficit, indicating distinct clinical and pathophysiological features.
