Biomedical subjects

George Townsend

Publications and source records attributed to George Townsend.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A comparison of common spatial patterns with complex band power features in a four-class BCI experiment.

We report on the offline analysis of four-class brain-computer interface (BCI) data recordings. Although the analysis is done within defined time windows (cue-based BCI), our goal is to work toward an approach which classifies on-going electroencephalogram (EEG) signals without the use of such windows (un-cued BCI). To that end, we provide some elements of that analysis related to timing issues that will become important as we pursue this goal in the future. A new set of features called complex band power (CBP) features which make explicit use of phase are introduced and are shown to produce good results. As reference methods we used traditional band power features and the method of common spatial patterns. We consider also for the first time in the context of a four-class problem the issue of variability of the features over time and how much data is required to give good classification results. We do this in a practical way where training data precedes testing data in time.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2004

Continuous EEG classification during motor imagery--simulation of an asynchronous BCI.

Nearly all electroencephalogram (EEG)-based brain-computer interface (BCI) systems operate in a cue-paced or synchronous mode. This means that the onset of mental activity (thought) is externally-paced and the EEG has to be analyzed in predefined time windows. In the near future, BCI systems that allow the user to intend a specific mental pattern whenever she/he wishes to produce such patterns will also become important. An asynchronous BCI is characterized by continuous analyzing and classification of EEG data. Therefore, it is important to maximize the hits (true positive rate) during an intended mental task and to minimize the false positive detections in the resting or idling state. EEG data recorded during right/left motor imagery is used to simulate an asynchronous BCI. To optimize the classification results, a refractory period and a dwell time are introduced.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Recording and marking with silicon multichannel electrodes.

This protocol describes an implementation of recording and analysis of evoked potentials in the hippocampal cortex, combined with lesioning using multichannel silicon probes. Multichannel recording offers the advantage of capturing a potential field at one instant in time. The potentials are then subjected to current source density (CSD) analysis, to reveal the layer-by-layer current sources and sinks. Signals from each channel of a silicon probe (maximum 16 channels in this study) were amplified and digitized at up to 40 kHz after sample-and-hold circuits. A modular lesion circuit board could be inserted between the input preamplifiers and the silicon probe, such that any one of the 16 electrodes could be connected to a DC lesion current. By making a lesion at the electrode showing a physiological event of interest, the anatomical location of the event can be precisely identified, as shown for the distal dendritic current sink in CA1 following medial perforant path stimulation. Making two discrete lesions through the silicon probe is useful to indicate the degree of tissue shrinkage during histological procedures. In addition, potential/CSD profiles were stable following small movements of the silicon probe, suggesting that the probe did not cause excessive damage to the brain.

Animals↗