Skip to main content
Log in

Spectro-temporal representations and time-varying spectra of evoked potentials

A methodological investigation

  • Published:
Biological Cybernetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Evoked potential waveforms are generally of a dynamic, transient character. Consequently, their spectral energy distribution cannot be adequately described by time-invariant representations, such as the power density spectrum. Obviously, aspectro-temporal description is needed. Appropriate means for obtaining such descriptions are discussed, on the basis of theoretical considerations concerning simultaneous time-frequency representations and methods ofshort-time spectral analysis. With reference to the “uncertainty principle”, particular attention is paid to time-bandwidth products of various filter types, used in relation with the latter technique. It is concluded that the method of bandpass filtering with proportional bandwidth filters, having cosine transfer functions, arises as a suitable solution in evoked potential analysis. The results of applying this method to somatosensory, visual, and brainstem auditory evoked potentials are presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ackroyd, M.H.: Instantaneous and time-varying spectra. An introduction. Radio Electron. Eng.39, 145–152 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ackroyd, M.H.: Short-time spectra and time-frequency energy distributions. J. Acoust. Soc. Am.50, 1229–1231 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ackroyd, M.H.: Time-dependent spectra: The unified approach. In: Signal processing. Proc. Nato Advanced Study Institute on Signal Processing. Griffiths, J.W.R., Stocklin, P.L., van Schooneveld, C. (eds.), pp. 1–9. London: Academic Press 1973

    Google Scholar 

  • Aertsen, A.M.H.J., Johannesma, P.I.M.: Spectro-temporal receptive fields of auditory neurons in the Grassfrog. I. Characterization of tonal and natural stimuli. Biol. Cybern.38, 223–234 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ba§ar, E., Ungan, P.: A component analysis and principles derived for the understanding of evoked potentials of the brain: studies in the Hippocampus. Kybernetik12, 133–140 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ba§ar, E., Gönder, A., Özesmi, ç., Ungan, P.: Dynamics of brain rhythmic and evoked potentials. II. Studies in the auditory pathway, reticular formation, and hippocampus during the waking stage. Biol. Cybern.20, 145–160 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Coppola, R., Tabor, R., Buchsbaum, M.S.: Signal to noise ratio and response variability measurements in single trial evoked potentials. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.44, 214–222 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cracco, R.Q., Cracco, J.B.: Visual evoked potential in man: early oscillatory potentials. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.45, 731–739 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, D.J.: Some comments on the use of Wiener filtering for the estimation of evoked potentials. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.38, 533–534 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dugundji, J.: Envelopes and pre-envelopes of real waveforms. IRE Trans. Inf. Theory IT-4, 53–57 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fano, R.M.: Short-time autocorrelation functions and power spectra. J. Acoust. Soc. Am.22, 546–550 (1950)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabor, D.: Theory of communication. J. I.E.E.93, 429–457 (1946)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartwell, J.W., Erwin, C.W.: Evoked potential analysis: on-line signal optimization using a mini-computer. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.41, 416–421 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins, G.M., Watts, D.G.: Spectral analysis and its applications. San Francisco: Holden Day 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Johannesma, P., Aertsen, A.: Neural image of sound in the Grassfrog. In: Hearing mechanisms and speech. Creutzfeld, O., Scheich, H., Schreiner, Chr. (eds.), pp. 79–86. Exp. Brain Res. Suppl. II (1979)

  • Levin, M.J.: Instantaneous spectra and ambiguity functions. IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory IT-10, 95–97 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Mark, W.D.: Spectral analysis of the convolution and filtering of non-stationary stochastic processes. J. Sound Vib.11, 19–63 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nogawa, T., Katayama, K., Tabata, Y., Kawahara, T., Ohshio, T.: Visual evoked potentials estimated by “Wiener filtering”. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.35, 375–378 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Page, C.H.: Instantaneous power spectra. J. Appl. Phys.23, 103–106 (1952)

    Google Scholar 

  • Papoulis, A.: The Fourier Integral and its applications, Chaps. 6 and 7. New York: McGraw-Hill 1962

    Google Scholar 

  • Picton, T.W., Hillyard, S.A., Krausz, H.I., Galambos, R.: Human auditory evoked potentials. I. Evaluation of components. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.36, 179–190 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rihaczek, A.W.: Signal energy distribution in time and frequency. IEEE Trans Inform. Theory IT-14, 369–374 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rihaczek, A.W.: Principles of high resolution radar, Chap. 2. New York: McGraw-Hill 1969

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakrison, D.J.: Communication theory: transmission of waveforms and digital information, Chap. 5. New York: Wiley 1968

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroeder, M.R., Atal, B.S.: Generalized short-time power spectra and autocorrelation functions. J. Acoust. Soc. Am.34, 1679–1683 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sciarretta, G., Erculiani, P.: The Berg transform: a method for spectral evaluation of the dynamic properties of the EEG. In: Quantitative analysis of the EEG. Matejcek, M, Schenk, G.K. (eds.), pp. 487–496. Proc. 2nd Symp. Study Group for EEG-Methodology, Jongny sur Vevey 1975

  • Turner, C.H.M.: On the concept of an instantaneous power spectrum, and its relationship to the autocorrelation function. J. Appl. Phys.25, 1347–1351 (1954)

    Google Scholar 

  • Van der Tweel, L.H., Estévez, O., Strackee, J.: Measurement of evoked potentials. In: Evoked potentials. Proc. Int. Evoked Potential Symp. Barber, C. (ed.) pp. 19–41. Falcon House: M.T.P. Press 1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Ungan, P., Ba§ar, E.: Comparison of Wiener filtering and selective averaging of evoked potentials. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.40, 516–520 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter, D.O.: The method of complex demodulation. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. Suppl.27, 53–57 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter, D.O.:A posteriori “Wiener filtering” of average evoked responses. Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol. Suppl.27, 61–70 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • de Weerd, J.P.C., Martens, W.L.J., Colon, E.J.: Estimation of evoked potentials using time-varying Wiener filtering (abstract). Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.43, 476–477 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  • de Weerd, J.P.C.:A posteriori time-varying filtering of averaged evoked potentials. I. Introduction and conceptual basis. Biol. Cybern. (in press) (1981)

  • de Weerd, J.P.C., Kap, J.I.:A posteriori time-varying filtering of averaged evoked potentials. II. Mathematical and computational aspects. Biol. Cybern. (in press) (1981)

  • Whalen, A.D.: Detection of signals in noise, Chap. 3. New York: Academic Press 1971

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de Weerd, J.P.C., Kap, J.I. Spectro-temporal representations and time-varying spectra of evoked potentials. Biol. Cybern. 41, 101–117 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335365

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335365

Keywords

Navigation