Simple Thresholding and NEO Hybrid Brain Spike
Detection Methods
A Literature Review
Harvish Mehta
Pennsylvania State Department of Electrical Engineering
University Park, PA, USA
Abstract— Brain waves are produced by synchronized pulses
from the neurons that communicated with each other. These
neuron connections dictate our perspectives, thoughts, emotions,
and behaviors. Therefore spike detection from brains can
influence the direction that brain interfaced technology is heading
as well as open a window into the brain to further cognitive
research. This neural processing is processed through spike
detection, which determines and sorts the many pulses coming
from the brain. Spike detection is the first step to gaining
meaningful information from the brain computer interface. Thus,
this paper discusses common algorithms and methods that
potentially could be used to detect and sort spikes in the brain.
Index Terms—brain spike detection, sorting spikes, NEO.
I. INTRODUCTION
Brain signals are split into many categories based on the
frequency depending on brain activity level. Due to the infinite
electrical pulse between our billions of neurons, noise becomes
an interfering and vital factor in classifying the brain signals
[4]. Therefore, spike detection is used to determine the
frequency and derive an accurate signal from the brain waves.
Spike detection is the first step in any analyzation used create a
brain machine interface (BMI). All spike detection methods
revolve around detecting the signal and then preprocessing the
signal for accuracy. This task can be done through an amplitude
threshold or even a software based program and firmware. The
bounds of detecting brain spikes correlate to power
consumption, probability of true detection, and real-time
processing accuracy. This paper will survey the common
algorithms used to analyze the analog feedback received from
the brain.
The remainder of the paper will break into four sections.
Section II will discuss simple threshold, and will derive a
reliable and effective simple thresholding technique. Section III
will apply the same the simple thresholding technique to a new
wireless headstage that combines optogenetics and
multichannel electrophysiological recording. Section IV will
introduce a nonlinear energy operator (NEO) hybrid, which
combines advantages of NEO and thresholding detection
methods. Section V will discuss the implications of sections II-
IV.
II. SIMPLE THRESHOLDING
In order to achieve a hardware realization, the application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC) must be real-time,
autonomous, and operational with appropriate signal to noise
ratio (SNR). Furthermore, all spike detection methods involve
two stages of pre-emphasizing and thresholding. The pre-
emphasizing is exemplified through the detection of the spike
using matched filtering, absolute thresholding, and nonlinear
energy operators, while thresholding is seen as a comparator to
sort the signal as valid [5].
Thus, to achieve a hardware realized ASIC, a simple
threshold method with minimal or no preprocessing is ideal. The
advantages of using simple thresholding include lower power
operation, a low SNR tolerance, and a fast real time response.
However, some of the disadvantages include the need for user
input for the predetermined threshold amplitude. There are three
classes of simple threshold methods with minimal computation.
The first is null, where no preprocessing is applied and positive
threshold is applied to the received raw data. The second is
negation where the signal is inverted before a negative threshold
is applied. The third is absolute value (ABS) where the signal is
preprocessed through absolution by applying both a positive and
negative threshold [2, 5].
A. Simple Threshold Methods Comparisons
In [2], simple thresholding methods compared to various
nonlinear operator (NEO) and matched filtering (MF) spike
detection techniques. All techniques were tested by using
sample data and action potential waveforms to determine the
probability of spike detection (PD) and number of false alarms
(PFA). To determine the effectiveness and the best spike
detection method, a cost function dependent on PD, PFA, and
preprocessor clock cycles was derived. Because each multiply
and accumulate (MAC) operation creates more clock cycles,
computation heavy preprocessors such as the MF receive lower
cost function scores. Therefore, the cost function in [2] is biased
towards heavy preprocessors.
The cost function created the best score for the ABS simple
thresholding method. To continue, the ABS simple thresholding
method also effectively operated within multiple SNR ranges. In
further comparison of MF, NEO, and simple threshold
technique, a comparison without MAC operations was
considered. In this case, NEO and MF retain higher cost function
scores when the refractory periods (brief moment of time when
the neuron slightly pauses) are not present. Thus, when
refractory periods are considered the ABS was mostly effective
because of its high real time response.
III. APPLICATION OF ABS SIMPLE THRESHOLDING
The next stages of brain spike detection utilize optogenetics.
Optogenetics is a new experimental approach that can activate
or deactivate light-sensitized neurons with precision. [1]
Describes the first attempt at high-resolution neural recording
with optogenetics. In [1], a new wireless headstage for combined
optogenetic and multichannel electrophysiological recoding is
created to process 32 neural data recording channels, in parallel
to controlling 32 implantable fiber couple simulation LEDs. Due
to a high resolution neural recoding with optogenetics, results
show that simultaneous stimulation and detection lead to results
that are more reliable.
In order to account for the high-resolution accompanying 32
recording channels and 32 stimulation channels, a low power
digital signal processor is needed. To achieve, a low power
digital signal processor, not only are compressors needed but
effective brain spike detection is also needed. The firmware has
core design of a spike detector based off an absolute value
operator. This way there are lower complexities and high
performances as seen in the previous section with ABS simple
thresholding.
𝑦(𝑛) = |𝑥(𝑛)| (1)
Equation (1) presents the magnitude of an input array, 𝑥(𝑛),
and when 𝑦(𝑛), output array, is greater than the threshold then
only is the spike detected. Although this spike detector is simple,
it is made more effective using an adaptive threshold determined
with the standard deviation of noise. Because electrodes drifting
in the brain and the presence of neural noise, changes in SNR
are originated. Thus, an automatic threshold calculation strategy
is adopted by the use of statistics, in which a PDF of half a
normal distribution models the detected spikes. The
performance of this spike detection method gives a 100% true
positive detection rate at as low as 15dB SNR, and a slightly
lower true positive detection rate, 97.28%, as low as 5dB SNR
[1]. ABS simple threshold with a combination of an adaptive
threshold serves as a low power, precise and efficient spike
detector.
IV. NEO HYBRID DETECTION METHOD
Nonlinear energy operator (NEO) is often compared to the
ABS simple thresholding due to their commonality. This is
another common detection method used in analyzing brain
spikes. NEO is seen to be more effective because it uses
probability and statistics to determine the probability of
detection and false alarm rate. Once again, as observed in the
previous section, when applied, an ABS simple thresholding
technique consumes less power and can operate effectively with
low SNR, thus making it an attractive option to process brain
spikes. The goal of this combination is make an accurate and low
power ASIC spike detector.
The hybrid method is proposed in [5] to combine both
methods. This two-phase system utilizes ABS to detect a
potential spike, and NEO to act as a checking mechanism to
validate the detected spike. Because equation (1) describes ABS
simple thresholding technique, equation (2) is a variation of
NEO that can be implemented as a hybrid.
𝜓[𝑥(𝑛)] = [𝑥(𝑛)]2 − [𝑥(𝑛 − 1) ∗ 𝑥(𝑛 + 1)] (2)
Equation (2) also has an input data array of 𝑥(𝑛), while
𝜓[𝑥(𝑛)] is similar to that of 𝑦(𝑛), where 𝜓[𝑥(𝑛)] needs to be
large to account for a true positive detection. In further
comparison of the two equations, the ABS simple thresholding
method detects a spike at any abrupt change or high frequency,
thereby increase the number of false alarms, while the NEO
variation extracts and eliminates error due to abrupt changes and
high frequencies. NEO becomes more effective at a cost of more
computation.
A. Hybrid Spike Detection Technique
Figure 1 portrays the hybrid algorithm presented in [5]. The
ABS simple thresholding method is used to detect spikes from
the raw data. If a potential spike is detected, then the NEO
algorithm is enabled. This allows less power consumption as the
NEO method is reduced from being ON during all clock cycles
to being enabled during a few clock cycles. As stated earlier the
NEO validates the spike as true or false by outputting through a
secondary threshold. These thresholds are acquired by using the
variances and medians of the inputted data.
Fig. 1. Hybrid Algorithm Diagram [5]
B. Results of Hybrid Spike Detection Technique
Using 65nm CMOS technology the power
consumption of the hybrid improves upon the power by 54.48%
when compared to the NEO. All the while, the hybrid circuit
maintains its accuracy and precision. Table 1 displays the
resulting data.
TABLE I. COMPARISON OF POWER CONSUMPTION
Spike Detection Algorithm Total Power (nW)
NEO 53.6
Hybrid Spike Detection 24.4
V. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION
The objective of this document is to give a brief overview of
common spike detection methods. The document proposed an
ABS simple thresholding method that consumes low power and
can operate under low SNR. This method was applied to a
wireless headstage integrated circuit, which utilized the lower
power operation and added an adaptive threshold to create an
accurate spike detector. The next section was an interesting
hybrid of the two most common algorithms used in spike
detection. It incorporated ABS thresholding and NEO. By taking
advantages from both technique, a lower power and an accurate
detection, method was delivered. Sources [1], [2], and [5] were
heavily relied upon to attain simulation results and data.
REFERENCES
[1] Gagnon-Turcotte, Gabriel, Yoan Lechasseur, Cyril Bories,
Younes Messaddeq, Yves De Koninck, and Benoit Gosselin. "A
Wireless Headstage for Combined Optogenetics and
Multichannel Electrophysiological Recording." IEEE
Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems 11.1 (2016): 1-
14. Web.
[2] Obeid, I., and P.d. Wolf. "Evaluation of Spike-Detection
Algorithms for a Brain-Machine Interface Application." IEEE
Transactions on Biomedical Engineering 51.6 (2004): 905-
11. IEEE. Web.
[3] Tam, Wing-Kin, Rosa So, Cuntai Guan, and Zhi Yang. "EC-PC
Spike Detection for High Performance Brain-Computer
Interface." 2015 37th Annual International Conference of the
IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
(EMBC) (2015): n. pag. IEEE. Web.
[4] "What Are Brainwaves?" What Are Brainwaves? Types of Brain
Waves | EEG Sensor and Brain Wave – UK. Symphonic Mind
Ltd, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2017.
[5] Zeinolabedin, Seyed Mohammad Ali, Anh Tuan Do, Kiat Seng
Yeo, and Tony Tae-Hyoung Kim. "Design of A Hybrid Neural
Spike Detection Algorithm for Implantable Integrated Brain
Circuits." 2015 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and
Systems (ISCAS) (2015): n. pag. IEEE. Web.