Publication
A rapid event-related potential (ERP) method for point-of-care evaluation of brain function: development of the Halifax Consciousness Scanner
Publisher:
Elsevier BV
Date:
04-2015
DOI:
10.1016/J.JNEUMETH.2015.02.008
Abstract: Event-related potentials (ERPs) may provide a non-invasive index of brain function for a range of clinical applications. However, as a lab-based technique, ERPs are limited by technical challenges that prevent full integration into clinical settings. To translate ERP capabilities from the lab to clinical applications, we have developed methods like the Halifax Consciousness Scanner (HCS). HCS is essentially a rapid, automated ERP evaluation of brain functional status. The present study describes the ERP components evoked from auditory tones and speech stimuli. ERP results were obtained using a 5-min test in 100 healthy in iduals. The HCS sequence was designed to evoke the N100, the mismatch negativity (MMN), P300, the early negative enhancement (ENE), and the N400. These components reflected sensation, perception, attention, memory, and language perception, respectively. Component detection was examined at group and in idual levels, and evaluated across both statistical and classification approaches. All ERP components were robustly detected at the group level. At the in idual level, nonparametric statistical analyses showed reduced accuracy relative to support vector (SVM) machine classification, particularly for speech-based ERPs. Optimized SVM results were MMN: 95.6% P300: 99.0% ENE: 91.8% and N400: 92.3%. A spectrum of in idual-level ERPs can be obtained in a very short time. Machine learning classification improved detection accuracy across a large healthy control s le. Translating ERPs into clinical applications is increasingly possible at the in idual level.