COMMENTARY

EEG and component analysis

Independent component analysis of the EEG: is this the way forward for understanding abnormalities of brain-gut signalling?

A R Hobson¹, A Hillebrand²

¹ Section of GI Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
² Neurosciences Research Institute, Aston University, Birmingham, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr A R Hobson
Section of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Division of Medicine and Neurosciences–Hope, University of Manchester, Hope Hospital, Salford, Lancashire M6 8HD, UK; Anthony.Hobson@manchester.ac.uk

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A combination of electroencephalography and independent component analysis has the potential to contribute towards our understanding of brain-gut signalling

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Keywords: oesophagus; experimental pain; electroencephalography; signal analysis; independent component analysis

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Our understanding of the sequence of physiological events that leads to the perception of a gastrointestinal sensation remains limited. What is it that determines whether acid in the oesophagus results in the sensation of heartburn? Why is it that some patients with extensive gastrointestinal inflammation are asymptomatic while others with functional gastrointestinal disorders report severe symptoms in the absence of any apparent biomedical abnormality?

These are questions that we are still some way from adequately addressing. For many years, researchers have attempted to design experiments with the aim of identifying robust biological markers of gastrointestinal pain hypersensitivity.^1,2 Ultimately, the sensitivity and specificity of such approaches, which predominantly rely on subjective reporting of symptomatic episodes, have been generally poor.^3,4 Moreover, even if such provocation tests produce a "positive" result, these data still reveal little about the underlying pathophysiology of the condition.

The primary reason that sensory testing . . . [Full text of this article]

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