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Unveiling Hidden Neural Codes: SIMPL – A Scalable and Fast Approach for Optimizing Latent Variables and Tuning Curves in Neural Population Data

Dr. Rishabh Pathak
This research paper presents SIMPL (Scalable Iterative Maximization of Population-coded Latents), a novel, computationally efficient algorithm designed to refine the estimation of latent variables and tuning curves from neural population activity. Latent variables in neural data represent essential low-dimensional quantities encoding behavioral or cognitive states, which neuroscientists seek to identify to understand brain computations better. Background and Motivation Traditional approaches commonly assume the observed behavioral variable as the latent neural code. However, this assumption can lead to inaccuracies because neural activity sometimes encodes internal cognitive states differing subtly from observable behavior (e.g., anticipation, mental simulation). Existing latent variable models face challenges such as high computational cost, poor scalability to large datasets, limited expressiveness of tuning models, or difficulties interpreting complex neural network-based functio...
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Types of Muscles Artifacts

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Dr. Rishabh Pathak

Muscle artifacts in EEG recordings can manifest in various forms and originate from different muscle groups or sources. 

1.     Surface Electromyography (EMG) Artifact:

o    Description: EMG artifacts result from electrical activity in muscles near the recording electrodes.

o    Characteristics:

§  High Amplitude: EMG artifacts often have higher amplitudes compared to brain-generated signals.

§  Frequency: Typically exhibit higher frequencies, especially during muscle contractions.

§  Localization: Can occur in regions with underlying muscles, such as the frontalis and masseter muscles.

2.   Glossokinetic Artifact:

o    Description: Artifact related to movements of the tongue muscles.

o    Characteristics:

§  Location: Typically affects electrodes near the mouth or tongue region.

§  Amplitude: May vary depending on the intensity of tongue movements.

3.   Photomyogenic Artifact:

o    Description: Artifact caused by light-induced muscle contractions, often seen in response to flashing lights during photic stimulation.

o    Characteristics:

§  Triggered Response: Occurs in response to specific visual stimuli.

§  Frequency: Can exhibit rhythmicity based on the frequency of the light stimulation.

4.   Photomyoclonic Artifact:

o    Description: Artifact resulting from light-induced muscle jerks or twitches.

o    Characteristics:

§  Sudden Movements: Manifests as abrupt muscle contractions in response to light stimuli.

§  Intermittent: Typically seen during or after exposure to specific light patterns.

Understanding the different types of muscle artifacts and their characteristics is essential for EEG interpretation and artifact identification. Proper recognition and differentiation of muscle artifacts from genuine brain activity help ensure accurate clinical assessments and diagnoses based on EEG recordings.

 

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