Emotion Recognition with Machine Learning Using EEG Signals

In this research, an emotion recognition system is developed based on valence/arousal model using electroencephalography (EEG) signals. EEG signals are decomposed into the gamma, beta, alpha and theta frequency bands using discrete wavelet transform (DWT), and spectral features are extracted from each frequency band. Principle component analysis (PCA) is applied to the extracted features by preserving the same dimensionality, as a transform, to make the features mutually uncorrelated. Support vector machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbor (KNN) and artificial neural network (ANN) are used to classify emotional states. The cross-validated SVM with radial basis function (RBF) kernel using extracted features of 10 EEG channels, performs with 91.3 accuracy for arousal and 91.1 accuracy for valence, both in the beta frequency band. Our approach shows better performance compared to existing algorithms applied to the 'DEAP' dataset. © 2018 IEEE

Emotion Recognition with Machine Learning Using EEG Signals

In this research, an emotion recognition system is developed based on valence/arousal model using electroencephalography (EEG) signals. EEG signals are decomposed into the gamma, beta, alpha and theta frequency bands using discrete wavelet transform (DWT), and spectral features are extracted from each frequency band. Principle component analysis (PCA) is applied to the extracted features by preserving the same dimensionality, as a transform, to make the features mutually uncorrelated. Support vector machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbor (KNN) and artificial neural network (ANN) are used to classify emotional states. The cross-validated SVM with radial basis function (RBF) kernel using extracted features of 10 EEG channels, performs with 91.3 accuracy for arousal and 91.1 accuracy for valence, both in the beta frequency band. Our approach shows better performance compared to existing algorithms applied to the 'DEAP' dataset. © 2018 IEEE

A neural network system for diagnosis and assessment of tremor in Parkinson disease patients

Tremor is one of the most important symptom in Parkinson's disease, which has been assessed clinically by neurologists as part of UPDRS scale. In this paper, we have implemented a supervised learning pattern recognition system to assess UPDRS of each Parkinson patient tremor to fill the absence of a reliable diagnosis and monitoring system for Parkinson patients. In our system a simple noninvasive method based on the recorded acceleration through the smartphone have been used for data acquisition. The results show high accuracy in the classifier block and neural network. A tight correlation between UPDRS scale and acceleration values reveals 91 percent accuracy by neural network with two hidden layers. © 2015 IEEE

King's Parkinson's disease pain scale cut-off points for detection of pain severity levels: A reliability and validity study

Background: Pain is one of the most common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD). Using an appropriate and specific measuring tool would be helpful in managing the pain. King's Parkinson's disease Pain Scale (KPPS) is an instrument designed to specifically measure pain in people with PD. Purpose: This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of KPPS (KPPS-P) and its cut-off points for pain severity levels. Methods: A total of 480 people with PD (with a mean (SD) age of 60.89 (10.98)) were recruited. The acceptability of KPPS-P was calculated. The structural validity and discriminant validity for different levels of pain was explored via the factor analysis, and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves, respectively. Internal consistency, test-retest, and inter-rater reliability were estimated by Cronbach's alpha and Interclass Correlation coefficient (ICC). Convergent validity was established between KPPS-P and other scales including Visual Analog Scale-Pain, Douleur Neuropathic 4, Brief Pain Inventory, Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2, and Parkinson's Disease-8. Results: A significant floor effect was observed. The exploratory factor analysis revealed 4 factors. Cronbach's alpha and ICC values were higher than 0.80. The correlation range between KPPS-P and other scales was 0.35�0.76. Cut-off points of 0, 17, and 68 were obtained to discriminate pain severity levels between no pain, mild, moderate, and severe pain, respectively, with sensitivity and specificity above 0.80. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the Persian version of KPPS not only has acceptable psychometric properties to assess pain in PD but also has the ability to distinguish between different levels of pain severity. © 2021 Elsevier B.V

Effects of treadmill training on the balance, functional capacity and quality of life in Parkinson's disease: A randomized clinical trial

There is growing evidence that exercise modalities have considerable effects on Parkinson's disease (PD). This trial aimed to provide a more detailed viewpoint of short-term and long-term treadmill training (TT) effects on some motor and non-motor features of PD. In this prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial, 20 mild to moderate PD patients, admitted in Rasoul-e-Akram hospital in Tehran, Iran, were randomly allocated in case (11) and control (9) groups. Treadmill intervention was performed at moderate intensity with 60 of heart rate reserved (HRR) in two 30-min sessions/week for a duration of 10 weeks. Both the groups were evaluated for three times; at the baseline, 2 months later and then 2 months after the second evaluation. We assigned the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), 6-min walk test (6MW), and the SF-8 healthy questionnaire, for assessment of balance, functional capacity, and Quality of life (QoL), respectively. Balance and functional capacity were significantly improved in the case group after the intervention (TUG p-value: 0.003, 6MW p-value: 0.003). Moreover, the long-term analysis revealed significant results as well (TUG p-value: 0.001, 6MW p-value: 0.004). Mental condition's scores of SF-8 in cases were not statistically different in short-term follow-up (F/U). However, analysis illustrated p-value: 0.016 for long-term assessment. The intervention induced significant changes in physical condition's scores in both of the F/Us (PC p-value: 0.013). This study provides evidence that a TT of mild to moderate intensity has significant and persistent benefits for the balance, functional capacity, and QoL in PD. © 2019 2019 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Impact of anticholinergic drugs withdrawal on motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease

Objectives: Physicians have prescribed anticholinergic agents as monotherapy or adjuvant therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease for decades. However, these medications can cause many adverse effects including gait freezing and falling. Herein we assessed the effects of anticholinergic medications on motor function, freezing of gait and falling in a group of patients with PD. Patients and Methods: This prospective study evaluated the effect of gradual discontinuation of anticholinergics on motor function in 131 outpatients with Parkinson's disease. We assessed patients� motor function at baseline six and twelve months later using the UPDRS-III. We also evaluated freezing of gait and falling in patients using UPDRS-II part 14 and 13 respectively. The anticholinergics were tapered and gradually discontinued and additional levodopa doses were added as patients needed. Results: 131patients successfully discontinued their anticholinergic medications. Stopping anticholinergics significantly improved the motor symptoms in PD patients as reflected in the change between the mean (±SD) UPDRS-III score of 36.85(±11.5) at the baseline to 32.51(±11.4) and 31.43 (±11.3) after six and twelve months (P < 0.001). The mean (±SD) scores of freezing of gait (FOG)significantly changed from 1.34(±1) to 1.17(±1) and 0.6(±0.7) and for falling down from 0.62(±0.8) to 0.5 (±0.8) and 0.29(±0.5) respectively (p-value of <0.001). Conclusion: Our finding demonstrated an improvement in motor function and FOG and falling incidences in PD patients, after discontinuation of anticholinergic drugs. As motor complications adversely affect the quality of life in PD patients, clinicians must be careful with the unnecessary use of anticholinergic drugs in their treatment strategies. © 202

Tongue Protrusion Dystonia in Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration

Background: Tongue protrusion dystonia is an uncommon focal dystonia involving the lingual muscles. Causes of tongue protrusion dystonia include tardive dystonia, posthypoxic dystonia, neuroacanthocytosis, pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration, and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Method: We summarize three children with pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration and tongue protrusion dystonia. All three patients underwent careful neurological examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and genetic testing. Results: Tongue protrusion dystonia was a prominent and disabling symptom in all three patients. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed a typical eye of the tiger sign in all patients. Two patients had the same genetic mutation (c.1168 A>T mutation, p.I390F). Conclusions: Tongue protrusion dystonia may be a clue to the underlying etiology of dystonia, including hereditary forms of dystonia. Among them, pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration is an important cause, especially in children. © 2019 Elsevier Inc

Long term follow-up results of deep brain stimulation of the Globus pallidus interna in pediatric patients with DYT1-positive dystonia

Objectives: : Primary generalized dystonia (PGD) due to heterozygous torsin 1A (TOR1A) gene mutation (DYT1) is a childhood onset dystonia with rapid deterioration of symptoms, leading to severe disability in adolescence. Globus pallidus interna deep brain stimulation (GPi-DBS) has been shown to provide significant improvement in these cases. Methods: : This was a retrospective study of TOR1A mutation positive dystonia patients, conducted at a university hospital from 2006 to 2018. Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFM-DRS) was used to evaluate dystonia severity before and after surgery. Emergence of postsurgical parkinsonian symptoms was evaluated using the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part III. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) was applied to assess cognitive dysfunction. SPSS version 18 was used for data analysis. Results: : Eleven patients entered for analysis with an average age of 22.36 (±3.35) years (range: 18�28). Seven patients (63.6 ) were female. Mean follow-up period was 8.72 (±0.87). Difference between baseline and most recent BFM scores was significant (disability: 10.5 ±4.52 versus 2.09 (±3.20), P: 0.001; severity: 48.45 (±17.88) versus 9.36 (±10.47), P<0.001). The mean MOCA and UPDRS III scores after 7�9 years of DBS were 27.18 (±2.99), and 6.09 (±4.15), respectively. Conclusion: : Our experience confirms that GPi-DBS in pediatric patients with DYT1 dystonia is overall successful, with significant and long-lasting positive effects on motor and cognitive functions. There was no prominent side effect in long-term follow up. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale: Psychometric properties during medication phases in idiopathic Parkinson disease

Background: Independence in activities of daily living (ADL) is one of the most important aspects in planning treatment for people with Parkinson disease (PD). The Barthel Index (BI) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) are commonly used in neurological diseases. Objective: This study was conducted to confirm the validity and reliability of the BI and mRS in PD during ON and OFF medication phases. Methods: We included 260 individuals with a diagnosis of idiopathic PD. The disability in ADL was measured by the BI, mRS, Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 (PDQ-39), Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale-Activities of Daily Living (UPDRS-ADL), and Schwab and England ADL scale (SE). Test�retest, inter-rater reliability, and internal consistency were assessed by the intra-class correlation (ICC) and Cronbach α coefficients. Dimensionality was evaluated by factor analysis. Convergent validity was assessed by the SE, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), PDQ-39 and UPDRS-ADL. Results: For the 260 participants (187 71.9% males; mean SD age 60.3 12.3 years), both the BI and mRS achieved an acceptable level of test�retest and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.77 to 0.91) in ON and OFF medication phases. The Cronbach α for BI was 0.85 and 0.88, respectively. We found 1 and 2 factors for BI in ON and OFF phases, respectively. Investigation of convergent validity showed moderate to high correlation for the BI with the UPDRS-ADL, SE, PDQ-39 (ADL), BBS and mRS scores in ON and OFF phases (� = 0.51�0.74) and mRS with SE, UPDRS-ADL, PDQ-39 (ADL) and BBS scores (� = 0.48�0.82). Conclusion: The BI and mRS showed acceptable validity and reliability to measure the degree of disability in patients with PD in daily activities in both ON and OFF medication phases. © 2019 Elsevier Masson SA