Automated Seizure Classification Using Deep Neural Network Based on Autoencoder

Introduction

The brain is the central command center that controls most of the human activities. It consists of billions of neurons that play a vital role in information exchange, which takes place through electrical and chemical forms. The neural activities can be detected with the electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. The EEG signals are generated through the excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials of neurons (Jirsa et al, 2014). The EEG signals are particularly useful for evaluating patients with suspected seizures, epilepsy, and unusual neurological problems. It is highly sensitive to show sudden changes in neural functioning even as they first occur (Bassett, D.S., & Sporns, O., 2017). The primary purpose of the recorded EEG signals is to evaluate patients with known seizures that can permit accurate diagnosis of the seizures type and epilepsy syndrome so that therapy may be appropriately directed or to diagnose unknown symptoms that may represent seizures. The seizures classification is yet a prime task, as a seizure affected person may continue to show normal brain activities, while the abnormalities in brain activity may occur due to head injury or high fever, which is not always a sign of a seizure (Pati, S., & Alexopoulos, A.V., 2010). Hence, the type of seizures depends on the origin of a disturbance inside the brain and how far it spreads.

The recurrent inexcusable seizures are known as epilepsy, and these types of seizures cannot be controlled with medication. The neurological abnormality in the brain manifests as a seizure that is the prime risk of epilepsy. The earlier and accurate detection of epileptic seizures is the foremost task for the diagnosis of epilepsy. According to the world health organization report, nearly 50 million persons are affected by epilepsy every year, and ninety percent of total epileptic humans belong to developing countries (WHO, 2015). The causes may be a lack of minerals, vitamins, medicine, knowledge, etc. Almost 60-70% of seizures are automatically cured with age, proper medication, and meditation, while the remaining are only cured with brain surgery. In surgery, the doctors remove the infected brain area by the operation. Before this process, the person passes through various observations intensively to detect the location in the brain from where the seizures begin.