Using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) recurrent neural networks to classify unprocessed EEG for seizure prediction

Abstract

Objective: Seizure prediction could improve quality of life for patients through removing uncertainty and providing an opportunity for acute treatments. Most seizure prediction models use feature engineering to process the EEG recordings. Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) neural networks are a recurrent neural network architecture that can display temporal dynamics and, therefore, potentially analyze EEG signals without performing feature engineering. In this study, we tested if LSTMs could classify unprocessed EEG recordings to make seizure predictions.

Methods: Long-term intracranial EEG data was used from 10 patients. 10-s segments of EEG were input to LSTM models that were trained to classify the EEG signal. The final seizure prediction was generated from 5 outputs of the LSTM model over 50 s and combined with time information to account for seizure cycles.

Results: The LSTM models could make predictions significantly better than a random predictor. When compared to other publications using the same dataset, our model performed better than several others and was comparable to the best models published to date. Furthermore, this framework could still produce predictions significantly better than chance when the experimental paradigm design was altered, without the need to reperform feature engineering.

Significance: Removing the need to perform feature engineering is an advancement on previously published models. This framework can be applied to many different patients' needs and a variety of acute interventions. Also, it opens the possibility of personalized seizure predictions that can be altered to meet daily needs.

Keywords: EEG; LSTM; epilepsy; long short-term memory; machine learning; seizure prediction.