Automated detection of electroencephalography artifacts in human, rodent and canine subjects using machine learning

Electroencephalography (EEG) invariably contains extra-cranial artifacts that are commonly dealt with based on qualitative and subjective criteria. Failure to account for EEG artifacts compromises data interpretation.

We have developed a quantitative and automated support vector machine (SVM)-based algorithm to accurately classify artifactual EEG epochs in awake rodent, canine and humans subjects. An embodiment of this method also enables the determination of 'eyes open/closed' states in human subjects.

The levels of SVM accuracy for artifact classification in humans, Sprague Dawley rats and beagle dogs were 94.17%, 83.68%, and 85.37%, respectively, whereas 'eyes open/closed' states in humans were labeled with 88.60% accuracy. Each of these results was significantly higher than chance.

Other existing methods, like those dependent on Independent Component Analysis, have not been tested in non-human subjects, and require full EEG montages, instead of only single channels, as this method does.

We conclude that our EEG artifact detection algorithm provides a valid and practical solution to a common problem in the quantitative analysis and assessment of EEG in pre-clinical research settings across evolutionary spectra.