CNN-based Framework using Spatial Dropping for Enhanced Interpretation of Neural Activity in Motor Imagery Classification

Abstract

Interpretation of brain activity responses using Motor Imagery (MI) paradigms is vital for medical diagnosis and monitoring. Assessed by machine learning techniques, identification of imagined actions is hindered by substantial intra and inter subject variability. Here, we develop an architecture of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) with enhanced interpretation of the spatial brain neural patterns that mainly contribute to the classification of MI tasks. Two methods of 2D-feature extraction from EEG data are contrasted: Power Spectral Density and Continuous Wavelet Transform. For preserving the spatial interpretation of extracting EEG patterns, we project the multi-channel data using a topographic interpolation. Besides, we include a spatial dropping algorithm to remove the learned weights that reflect the localities not engaged with the elicited brain response. Obtained results in a bi-task MI database show that the thresholding strategy in combination with Continuous Wavelet Transform improves the accuracy and enhances the interpretability of CNN architecture, showing that the highest contribution clusters over the sensorimotor cortex with differentiated behavior between μ and β rhythms.