title: Novel Methods for Surface EMG Analysis and Exploration Based on Multi-Modal Gaussian Mixture Models.
abstract: This paper introduces a new method for data analysis of animal muscle activation during locomotion. It is based on fitting Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) to surface EMG data (sEMG). This approach enables researchers/users to isolate parts of the overall muscle activation within locomotion EMG data. Furthermore, it provides new opportunities for analysis and exploration of sEMG data by using the resulting Gaussian modes as atomic building blocks for a hierarchical clustering. In our experiments, composite peak models representing the general activation pattern per sensor location (one sensor on the long back muscle, three sensors on the gluteus muscle on each body side) were identified per individual for all 14 horses during walk and trot in the present study. Hereby we show the applicability of the method to identify composite peak models, which describe activation of different muscles throughout cycles of locomotion.
authors.affiliation: Multimedia, Simulation and Virtual Reality Group, Institute of Computer Science II, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna Magdalena
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vögele
authors.affiliation: Working Group Animal Breeding, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Rebeka R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Zsoldos
authors.affiliation: Gokhale Method Institute, Stanford, CA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.affiliation: Movement Science Group, Department for Small Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria.|Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Theresia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Licka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006736:Horses; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*