Functional localization of the cortical motor area in the brain based on wavelet analysis of slow cortical potential

The method for rapidly, precisely and non-invasively localizing functional regions of the brain is a problem in neuromedicine research. Cortical electrostimulation is the optimal localization method during brain surgery, with a degree of accuracy of approximately 5 mm. However, electrostimulation can damage the cerebral cortex, trigger epilepsy, cause missed detection, and extend the operation time. Studies are required to determine whether cortical motor regions can be localized by wavelet analysis from slow cortical potentials (SCP). In this study, based on wavelet analysis of SCP from electrocorticograms(ECoG), a selection of algorithms for classification of the SCP in the motor regions utilizing experimental data was verified. Results demonstrated a characteristic quantity of energy ratio in the reconstructed signal was filtered in the a8 (0~1.95 Hz) band prior to and following motion events. A characteristic threshold was considered to be 1.6. The accuracy of localization detection was 84%. The degree of accuracy was less than 5 mm. The present study avoided the problems of cerebral cortex injury and epilepsy onset, with an operation time of 60 seconds. Therefore, wavelet analysis on SCP is feasible for localizing cortical motor regions. Furthermore, this localization technique is accurate, safe and rapid.