EEG based zero-phase phase-locking value (PLV) and effects of spatial filtering during actual movement.
Phase-locking value (PLV) is a well-known feature in sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) based BCI. Zero-phase PLV has not been explored because it is generally regarded as the result of volume conduction. Because spatial filters are often used to enhance the amplitude (square root of band power (BP)) feature and attenuate volume conduction, they are frequently applied as pre-processing methods when computing PLV. However, the effects of spatial filtering on PLV are ambiguous. Therefore, this article aims to explore whether zero-phase PLV is meaningful and how this is influenced by spatial filtering. Based on archival EEG data of left and right hand movement tasks for 32 subjects, we compared BP and PLV feature using data with and without pre-processing by a large Laplacian. Results showed that using ear-referenced data, zero-phase PLV provided unique information independent of BP for task prediction which was not explained by volume conduction and was significantly decreased when a large Laplacian was applied. In other words, the large Laplacian eliminated the useful information in zero-phase PLV for task prediction suggesting that it contains effects of both amplitude and phase. Therefore, zero-phase PLV may have functional significance beyond volume conduction. The interpretation of spatial filtering may be complicated by effects of phase.
State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: wenjuanjian@126.com.
Wenjuan
W
Jian
State Key Laboratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
Minyou
M
Chen
National Center for Adaptive Neurotechnologies, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA.
Dennis J
DJ
McFarland
D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
Electroencephalography (EEG); Large Laplacian; Phase-locking value (PLV); Square root of band power (BP); Zero-phase