title: Inability of Lyapunov exponents to predict epileptic seizures.
abstract: It has been claimed that Lyapunov exponents computed from electroencephalogram or electrocorticogram (ECoG) time series are useful for early prediction of epileptic seizures. We show, by utilizing a paradigmatic chaotic system, that there are two major obstacles that can fundamentally hinder the predictive power of Lyapunov exponents computed from time series: finite-time statistical fluctuations and noise. A case study with an ECoG signal recorded from a patient with epilepsy is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA.
authors.forename: Ying-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Mary Ann F
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Frei
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Osorio
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D003344:Cortical Synchronization; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests