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PC based Electroencephalogram system

Conference Paper · December 2013

DOI: 10.1109/ICIInfS.2013.6731966

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Ruwan Ranaweera Kalani Wataraka Gamage

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 PC Based Electroencephalogram System
M.E.Chandrasiri, R.M.T.M.Dhanapala, W.G.K.G.Kumari, and R.Ranaweera, Member IEEE
Abstract-In this study a prototype of high performance PC
based Electroencephalogram (EEG) system was developed
which integrates a hardware circuit design for initial signal
conditioning and the digital signal processing design for
further signal conditioning and analysis. Since EEG signals
are very weak and is from a source with high output
impedance, in addition to amplification of the signal and
filtering, design of a differential pre-amplifier with high
common-mode rejection ratio and high signal-to-noise ratio
was very important. In order to minimize the requirements
of the notch filters to remove power line interference, Driven
Right Leg (DRL) technique was integrated in the analog
design for reducing common mode voltage of the patient
body. The instrumentation amplifier with DRL was followed
by a high pass filter stage, two amplifier stages and a low pass
filter stage. The Digital signal processing techniques were
implemented in LabVIEW (National Instruments) with
further filtering for power line noise, ability to identify the
most significant EEG band present in acquired signal, and
capability for further analysis of the signal.
A high performance single channel EEG system with
high input impedance, high signal to noise ratio, and high
amplification range was achieved for the use under non
shielded conditions. The performance of individual blocks as
well as the integrated system was verified. Testing results
showed that the performance of all parts of the EEG system
satisfies the design specifications. The effectiveness of the
design was verified by comparing to results from Great
Lakes Neurotechnologies BioRadio 150 system as well as
using EEG signals obtained during visual and motor tasks.
Index Terms—DRL, EEG, ERP.
I. I NTR ODUC T ION
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a interference also due to external equipment, which are
neurophysiologic measurement of electrical activity in the
brain as recorded by electrodes placed on the scalp. These
resulting traces are known as EEG signals [3][7]. Neurons
in the brain communicate with each other by exchanging
small electric pulses between them. This is called as firing
of neurons. When thousands of neurons fire
simultaneously in synchrony, it creates an electric field
M.E.Chandrasiri is with the Department of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
(e-mail: malithi1989@gmail.com).
R.M.T.M.Dhanapala is with the Department of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
(e-mail:thilinimdk@gmail.com).
W.G.K.G.Kumari is with the Department of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
(e-mail: wgkalani@gmail.com).
R.Ranaweera is with the Department of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
(phone: 94-81-239-3401; fax: 94-81-238-5772; e-mail:
rdbranaweera@gmail.com).
which can be recorded on the surface of scalp as EEG [3].
The frequency content of EEG signals is highly dependent
on the activity in cerebral cortex and according to the
frequency bands of EEG signals they can be classified in
to wave groups as alpha, beta, theta and delta [1].
EEG is widely used in different application areas such
as health/clinical research, brain mapping and human
computer interfacing. It is used as a diagnostic tool in
clinical applications for neurological diseases such as
epilepsy, Parkinson's disease etc [3]. Another application
of EEG is brain computer interfacing (BCI), which creates
direct communication between brain and computer or
peripherals. This can be used as a method to control
prosthesis or devices for patients who have lost the ability
to move or speak [3]. Apart from these applications, EEG
is also used for research applications such as cognitive
studies and sleep research [2].
EEG signals are very weak signals as they have very
low voltage levels in micro volt range (approximately
100µV) [1]. Because of that high gain amplification and
high sensitivity is required to get a clean signal. Also, EEG
signals have different frequency bands in the range of 0.5-
100Hz [1]. Original source of the EEG has high
impedance. Due to the high source impedance, the front
end of the design should have high input impedance, at
least ten times that of the source impedance [2].
Due to the very low amplitude of EEG signals, they
are more susceptible to noise interference. Interference can
be present because of the capacitive coupling between the
subject, the power lines and the earth and also due to the
capacitive coupling between the measurement cables and
the power lines [3][1]. There can be magnetically induced
picked up by the cable loops and other exposed areas [2].
Since the EEG signals are in the low frequency range they
can be corrupted by both high and low frequency
interference. Due to differences in polarization between
the electrodes and the skin, there can also be a DC offset
voltage between the input terminals [7].
II. M E THO DO LO GY
1. System design
The acquired weak EEG signal was initially
conditioned using an analog circuit, where the signal was
amplified and filtered. The conditioned signal was further
processed and analyzed using a digital system. The signal
is first amplified by a high quality instrumentation
amplifier with high common mode rejection ratio
(CMRR), which measures the voltage difference between
two locations on the scalp. Driven Right Leg circuit was