title: Detection limit in low-amplitude EEG measurement.
abstract: Electrocerebral inactivity for the determination of cerebral death is defined as no findings of EEG greater than the amplifier's inherent internal noise level when recording at increased sensitivity. A surface biopotential electrode contains two interfaces composed of skin gel (electrolyte) and gel electrode (metal), each forming a noise source. The power spectral density, S(f), of extremely low noise signals was obtained by means of autocorrelation and fast Fourier transformation. Interelectrode resistance, R(f), was measured with synchronous rectification. The formula of equivalent noise resistance R(n) = S(f)/4kT, where k is the Boltzmann constant and T is room temperature in Kelvin, gives a resistance that generates the thermal noise corresponding to the measured S(f). Rn/R is a parameter derived from normalization by R. When Rn/R = 1, measured noise contains thermal noise only. Meanwhile, Rn/R > 1 indicates presence of excess noise, such as 1/f, and tissue noise in addition to the thermal noise. Mean square root (Rn/R) of the scalp noise was 10.8 at 10 Hz, showing existence of excess noise. The study results suggest that it is necessary to take excess noise into consideration in the measurement of low-amplitude EEG for the determination of cerebral death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-Medical Engineering, Tokai University School of High-Technology for Human Welfare, Numazu, Japan.
authors.forename: Muneyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horikawa
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yarita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D001926:Brain Death / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000502:physiology; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004566:Electrodes; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012535:Scalp / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013269:Stochastic Processes