Feature selection for motor unit potential train characterization

Abstract

Introduction: Ten new features of motor unit potential (MUP) morphology and stability are proposed. These new features, along with 8 traditional features, are grouped into 5 aspects: size, shape, global complexity, local complexity, and stability.

Methods: We used sequential forward and backward search strategies to select subsets of these 18 features to discriminate accurately between muscles whose MUPs are predominantly neurogenic, myopathic, or normal.

Results and conclusions: Results based on 8102 motor unit potential trains (MUPTs) extracted from 4 different limb muscles (n = 336 total muscles) demonstrate the usefulness of these newly introduced features and support an aspect-based grouping of MUPT features.

Keywords: motor unit potential morphology; motor unit potential train features; motor unit potential train stability; muscle characterization; needle electromyography.