Optimization of wavelets for classification of movement-related cortical potentials generated by variation of force-related parameters

The paper presents a novel pattern recognition approach for the classification of single-trial movement-related cortical potentials (MRCPs) generated by variations of force-related parameters during voluntary tasks. The feature space was built from the coefficients of a discrete dyadic wavelet transformation. Mother wavelet parameterization allowed the tuning of basis functions to project the signals. The mother wavelet was optimized to minimize the classification error estimated from the training set. Classification was performed with a support vector machine (SVM) approach with optimization of the width of a Gaussian kernel and of the regularization parameter. The efficacy of the optimization procedures was representatively shown on electroencephalographic recordings from two subjects who performed unilateral isometric plantar flexions at two target torques and two rates of torque development. The proposed classification method was tested on four pairs of classes corresponding to the change in only one of the two parameters of the task. Misclassification rate (test set) in the classification of 1-s EEG activity immediately before the onset of the tasks was reduced from 50.8+/-2.9% with worst wavelet and nearest representative classifier, to 40.2+/-7.3% with optimal wavelet and nearest representative classifier, and to 15.8+/-3.4% with optimal wavelet and SVM with optimization of the kernel and regularization parameter. The proposed pattern recognition method is promising for classification of MRCPs modulated by variations of force-related parameters.