Classification of EEG signals using the wavelet transform

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is widely used clinically to investigate brain disorders. However, abnormalities in the EEG in serious psychiatric disorders are at times too subtle to be detected using conventional techniques. This paper describes the application of an artificial neural network (ANN) technique together with a feature extraction technique, viz., the wavelet transform, for the classification of EEG signals. The data reduction and preprocessing operations of signals are performed using the wavelet transform. Three classes of EEG signals were used: Normal, Schizophrenia (SCH), and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The architecture of the artificial neural network used in the classification is a three-layered feedforward network which implements the backpropagation of error learning algorithm. After training, the network with wavelet coefficients was able to correctly classify over 66% of the normal class and 71% of the schizophrenia class of EEGs, respectively. The wavelet transform thus provides a potentially powerful technique for preprocessing EEG signals prior to classification. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.