The present study proposes to apply magnitude-squared coherence (MSC) to the somatosensory evoked potential for identifying the maximum driving response band. EEG signals, leads [Fpz'-Cz'] and [C3'-C4'], were collected from two groups of normal volunteers, stimulated at the rate of 4.91 (G1: 26 volunteers) and 5.13 Hz (G2: 18 volunteers). About 1400 stimuli were applied to the right tibial nerve at the motor threshold level. After applying the anti-aliasing filter, the signals were digitized and then further low-pass filtered (200 Hz, 6th order Butterworth and zero-phase). Based on the rejection of the null hypothesis of response absence (MSC( f ) > 0.0060 with 500 epochs and the level of significance set at α = 0.05), the beta and gamma bands, 15-66 Hz, were identified as the maximum driving response band. Taking both leads together ("logical-OR detector", with a falsealarm rate of α = 0.05, and hence α = 0.0253 for each derivation), the detection exceeded 70% for all multiples of the stimulation frequency within this range. Similar performance was achieved for MSC of both leads but at 15, 25, 35, and 40 Hz. Moreover, the response was detected in [C3'-C4'] at 35.9 Hz and in [Fpz'-Cz'] at 46.2 Hz for all members of G2. Using the "logical-OR detector" procedure, the response was detected at the 7th multiple of the stimulation frequency for the series as a whole (considering both groups). Based on these findings, the MSC technique may be used for monitoring purposes.

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This work investigates the influence of the stimulus frequency in the performance of two Objective Response Detection (ORD) techniques, the Magnitude-Squared Coherence (MSC) and the Component Synchrony Measure (CSM), as applied in somatosensory stimulation. Electroencephalographic signals were collected (10-20 International System) from forty adult volunteers without history of neurological pathologies. The stimuli were applied to the right posterior tibial nerve at the frequencies of 2, 5, 7 and 9 Hz and motor threshold intensity level. The detection was based on the rejection of the null hypothesis of response absence (significance level α=0.05 and M=100 and 500 epochs). The performances of the MSC at the four stimulation frequencies were compared, two-by-two, using the Proportion Test applied to the mean percentage rates in the total (2-100 Hz) and optimal (20-60 Hz) bands. The same was proceeded to the CSM. The evaluated derivations were Cz, C4, Pz and P4. No significant difference was found for any studied technique (MSC or CSM), any M-value, at any derivation. Thus, the highest stimulation frequency (9 Hz) can be used in order to obtain a reduction in the time of response detection in an ORD approach for a fixed M-value.

The objective of the present study was to determine the adequate cortical regions based on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) recording. This investigation was carried out using magnitude-squared coherence (MSC), a frequency domain objective response detection technique. Electroencephalographic signals were collected (International 10-20 System) from 38 volunteers, without history of neurological pathology, during somatosensory stimulation. Stimuli were applied to the right posterior tibial nerve at the rate of 5 Hz and intensity slightly above the motor threshold. Response detection was based on rejecting the null hypothesis of response absence (significance level α = 0.05 and M = 500 epochs). The best detection rates (maximum percentage of volunteers for whom the response was detected for the frequencies between 4.8 and 72 Hz) were obtained for the parietal and central leads mid-sagittal and ipsilateral to the stimulated leg: C4 (87%), P4 (82%), Cz (89%), and Pz (89%). The P37-N45 time-components of the SEP can also be observed in these leads. The other leads, including the central and parietal contralateral and the frontal and fronto-polar leads, presented low detection capacity. If only contralateral leads were considered, the centro-parietal region (C3 and P3) was among the best regions for response detection, presenting a correspondent well-defined N37; however, this was not observed in some volunteers. The results of the present study showed that the central and parietal regions, especially sagittal and ipsilateral to the stimuli, presented the best SNR in the gamma range. Furthermore, these findings suggest that the MSC can be a useful tool for monitoring purposes.

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