Sorted averaging—application to auditory event-related responses
Abstract
To isolate event-related potentials (ERPs) from the biological background noise, averaging of stimulus-locked electroencephalogram (EEG) epochs is needed. Recordings with patients often reveal a noisy background EEG, i.e., a high amplitude and multiple artifacts. Research studies have to deal with a limited number of available epochs. Therefore, averaging and efficient artifact rejection algorithms are needed. This paper focuses on the sorted averaging algorithm which was developed for the recording of auditory brainstem responses. We demonstrate the applicability of sorted averaging on ERPs by comparing three different averaging algorithms on a classical mismatch negativity (MMN) paradigm, recorded at 10 normal hearing volunteers. The resulting estimated signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ERP waveforms was significantly increased compared to established averaging algorithms. Thus, the sorted averaging algorithm provides an improvement of the SNR in recordings with poor SNR (e.g., the MMN) or noisy background EEG (e.g., at Cochlear Implant users).
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The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ERP signals can be enhanced through trial averaging.
“An important domain knowledge regarding ERP signals is that the SNR can be enhanced through trial averaging. [26], [27].”
From A Cascade xDAWN EEGNet Structure for Unified Visual-Evoked Related Potential Detection (2024) · cites this paper as [26]
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- Authors
- Rahne, T., von Specht, H., & Mühler, R.
- Affiliations
- Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (DE)
- Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Rahne, Torsten
- Venue
- Journal of Neuroscience Methods
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-07
- Volume
- 172
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 74-78
- ISSN
- 0165-0270 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1993908878
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Neuroscience Methods (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › EEG and Brain-Computer Interfaces
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Hearing, Cochlea, Tinnitus, Genetics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Keywords
- event-related potentials, mismatch negativity, artifact rejection, signal-to-noise ratio, cochlear implant users, auditory brainstem response
- MeSH terms
- Acoustic Stimulation, Adult, Algorithms, Auditory Threshold, Contingent Negative Variation, Electroencephalography, Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Female, Humans, Male, Psychophysics, Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
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