Skip to main content
Log in

Quantification of phase coupling and information transfer between electroencephalographic (EEG) signals: Analysis strategies, models and simulations

  • Published:
Theory in Biosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Different types of phase coupling between and within EEG signals are theoretically explained and coupling-related analysis strategies are reported. Effects of synchronization have been distinguished from effects signal transfer (propagation), where both are designated by a phase coupling. Six examples of phase coupling analysis are presented. The EEG data are derived from our previous investigations and analysis results are complemented by modelling and simulation studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnold, M.; Doering, A.; Witte, H.; Dorschel, J.; Eiselt, M. 1996. Use of adaptive Hilbert transformation for EEG segmentation and calculation of instantaneous respiration rate in neonates. J Clin Monit 12: 43–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arnold, M.; Miltner, W. H. Witte, H.; Bauer, R.; Braun, C. 1998. Adaptive AR modeling of nonstationary time series by means of Kalman filtering. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 45: 553–562.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gebber, G.; Zhong, S.; Lewis, C.; Barman, S. 1999. Human brain alpha rhythm: nonlinear oscillation or filtered noise? Brain Research 818: 556–560.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hesse, W.; Moller, E.; Arnold, M.; Schack, B. 2003. The use of time-variant EEG Granger causality for inspecting directed interdependencies of neural assemblies. J Neurosci Methods 124: 27–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lachaux, J. P.; Rodriguez, E.; Martinerie, J.; Varela, F. J. 1999. Measuring phase synchrony in brain signals. Hum Brain Mapp 8: 194–208.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miltner, W. H.; Braun, C.; Arnold, M.; Witte, H.; Taub, E. 1999. Coherence of gamma-band EEG activity as a basis for associative learning. Nature 397: 434–436.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moller, E.; Schack, B.; Arnold, M.; Witte, H. 2001. Instantaneous multivariate EEG coherence analysis by means of adaptive high-dimensional autoregressive models. Journal of Neuroscience Methods 105: 143–158.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez, E.; George, N.; Lachaux, J. P.; Martinerie, J.; Renault, B.; Varela, F. J. 1999. Perception’s shadow: long-distance synchronization of human brain activity. Nature 397: 430–433.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblum, M. G.; Pikovsky, A. S.; Kurths, J. 1996. Phase synchronization of chaotic oscillators. Physical Review Letters 76: 1804–1807.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schack, B.; Rappelsberger, P.; Vath, N.; Weiss, S.; Moller, E.; Griessbach; G.; Witte, H. 2001a. EEG frequency and phase coupling during human information processing. Methods Inf Med 40: 106–111.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schack, B.; Weiss, S.; Rappelsberger, P. 2003. Cerebral information transfer during word processing: Where and when does it occur and how fast is it? Hum Brain Mapp 19: 18–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schack, B.; Witte, H.; Helbig, M.; Schelenz, C.; Specht, M. 2001b. Time-variant non-linear phase-coupling analysis of EEG burst patterns in sedated patients during electroencephalic burst suppression period. Clin Neurophysiol 112: 1388–1399.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tass, P.; Rosenblum, M. G.; Weule, J.; Kurths, J.; Pikovsky, A. S.; Volkmann, J.; Schnitzler, A.; Freund, J. 1998. Detection of n:m phase locking from noisy data: Applications to Magnetoencephalography. Physical Review Letters 81: 3291–3294.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varela, F.; Lachaux, J. P.; Rodriguez, E.; Martinerie, J. 2001. The brainweb: phase synchronization and large-scale integration. Nat Rev Neurosci 2: 229–239.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Witte, H.; Arnold, M.; Miltner, W.; Rosburg, T.; Schelenz, C. 1999a. Use of time-variant coherence as a general tool for analysis of interrelations between brain electrical processes. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, Medical Informatics Europe ’99 (edited by Kokol, P. et al.) 68: 374–379.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Witte, H.; Breidbach, O.; Schmidt, K.; Schwab, M. 1999b. News and views in signal analysis of the electroencephalogram (EEG). Theory Biosci. 118: 284–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Witte, H.; Eiselt, M.; Patakova, I.; Petranek, S.; Griessbach, G.; Krajca, V.; Rother, M. 1991. Use of discrete Hilbert transformation for automatic spike mapping: a methodological investigation. Med Biol Eng Comput 29: 242–248.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Witte, H.; Schack, B.; Helbig, M.; Putsche, P.; Schelenz, C.; Schmidt, K.; Specht, M. 2000. Quantification of transient quadratic phase couplings within EEG burst patterns in sedated patients during electroencephalic burst-suppression period. J Physiol Paris 94: 427–434.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Witte, H.; Schelenz, C.; Specht, M.; Jager, H.; Putsche, P.; Arnold, M.; Leistritz, L.; Reinhart, K. 1999c. Interrelations between EEG frequency components in sedated intensive care patients during burst-suppression period. Neurosci Lett 260: 53–56.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Witte.

Additional information

Obituary: This article was conceived of as an overview of the development of our methodical strategies over the last ten years regarding time-variant phase couplings. After the first draft of the article was already completed, I received the inconceivable message that Dr. Bärbel Schack had passed away on the morning of July 24, 2003. I had the privilege of knowing Dr. Schack for more than fifteen years and I always regarded her as a personal friend. By her untimely passing, the Institute of Medical Statistics, Computer Science and Documentation has lost one of its ablest scientists. She was an internationally recognized scientist, a fine colleague and a faithful friend, and I am sure she will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Herbert Witte

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Witte, H., Schack, B. Quantification of phase coupling and information transfer between electroencephalographic (EEG) signals: Analysis strategies, models and simulations. Theory Biosci. 122, 361–381 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12064-003-0064-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12064-003-0064-5

Key words

Navigation