Recognition of Healthy Individuals’ Perceptual Decisions Using Electroencephalogram Signals and Artificial Neural Networks
Abstract
Purpose: The process of making a decision based on available sensory information is called “Perceptual Decision Making”. The manner in which this decision is made has a direct impact on a person's social and personal relationships. Despite numerous studies in the field of perceptual decision making, there is still no robust system that can recognize people's perceptual decisions objectively. To this aim, this study aims to examine the relationship between EEG signals and perceptual decision making in healthy individuals.
Materials and Methods: The research employs an online EEG dataset based on visual stimuli, including faces and cars, obtained from 16 participants. Since there is no binary decision-making mode in the brain and there is an uncertainty in which each option has a special weight in decision-making and finally the option that passes a threshold is selected, this research has tried to incorporate this uncertainty into the final model to improve perceptual decision recognition system performance. For this purpose, a fuzzy radial basis function (FRBF) network was utilized.
Results: After extracting 26 features from the preprocessed EEG signals, Friedman’s non-parametric statistical analysis was performed, revealing that differences in the coherence of stimulus representations have a greater impact on an individual's decision-making process than spatial prioritization. Then, FRBF network classifier, with the extracted features from TP9 and TP10 channels as input, achieved an accuracy of 90.3% in classifying the test data as either a "face" or "car".
Conclusion: The classification accuracy results showed that the proposed method is an effective procedure for recognition of human decisions.
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11- Ali Nouri and Zahra Tabanfar, "Detection of ADHD Disorder in Children using Layer-wise Relevance Propagation and Convolutional Neural Network: an EEG Analysis." Frontiers in Biomedical Technologies, (2023).
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21- Zahra Tabanfar, Seyed Mohammad Firouzabadi, Zeynab Shankaei, Giv Sharifi, Kambiz Novin, and Anahita Zoghi, "Brain Tumor Detection Using Electroencephalogram Linear and Non-Linear Features." Iranian Journal of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 10 (No. 3), pp. 211-21, (2016).
22- Sushmita Mitra and Jayanta Basak, "FRBF: a fuzzy radial basis function network." Neural Computing & Applications, Vol. 10pp. 244-52, (2001).
23- Lukas N Groschner, Laura Chan Wah Hak, Rafal Bogacz, Shamik DasGupta, and Gero Miesenböck, "Dendritic integration of sensory evidence in perceptual decision-making." Cell, Vol. 173 (No. 4), pp. 894-905. e13, (2018).
24- Amin Behzadnia, Farnaz Ghassemi, Soghra A Chermahini, Zahra Tabanfar, and Athena Taymourtash, "The neural correlation of sustained attention in performing conjunctive continuous performance task: an event-related potential study." Neuroreport, Vol. 29 (No. 11), pp. 954-61, (2018).
25- John W Rohrbaugh, Emanuel Donchin, and Charles W Eriksen, "Decision making and the P300 component of the cortical evoked response." Perception & Psychophysics, Vol. 15 (No. 2), pp. 368-74, (1974).
26- Aida Azlina Mansor, Salmi Mohd Isa, and Syaharudin Shah Mohd Noor, "P300 and decision-making in neuromarketing." Neuroscience Research Notes, Vol. 4 (No. 3), pp. 21-26, (2021).
27- Tian Liu, Yanni Chen, Pan Lin, and Jue Wang, "Small-World Brain Functional Networks in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Revealed by EEG Synchrony." Clin. EEG Neurosci., Vol. 46 (No. 3), pp. 183-91, 2015/07/01 (2014).
28- Kenta Kimura, Aya Murayama, Asako Miura, and Jun’ichi Katayama, "Effect of decision confidence on the evaluation of conflicting decisions in a social context." Neuroscience letters, Vol. 556pp. 176-80, (2013).
29- Minh Bao Pham, Nhi Yen Phan Xuan, Quoc Khai Le, and Quang Linh Huynh, "A Decision-Making Process Analysis Based on Prefrontal Hemispheric Asymmetry." in International Conference on the Development of Biomedical Engineering in Vietnam, (2022): Springer, pp. 838-56.
2- Yajing Si et al., "Predicting individual decision-making responses based on single-trial EEG." NeuroImage, Vol. 206p. 116333, (2020).
3- Alireza Ettefagh, Farnaz Ghassemi, and Zahra Tabanfar, "Time-Frequency Analysis of Electroencephalogram Signals in a Perceptual Decision-Making Task of Random Dot Kinematograms." Frontiers in Biomedical Technologies, (2022).
4- Christopher Summerfield and Floris P De Lange, "Expectation in perceptual decision making: neural and computational mechanisms." Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Vol. 15 (No. 11), pp. 745-56, (2014).
5- Jan Herding, Simon Ludwig, Alexander von Lautz, Bernhard Spitzer, and Felix Blankenburg, "Centro-parietal EEG potentials index subjective evidence and confidence during perceptual decision making." NeuroImage, Vol. 201p. 116011, (2019).
6- Hauke R Heekeren, Sean Marrett, Peter A Bandettini, and Leslie G Ungerleider, "A general mechanism for perceptual decision-making in the human brain." Nature, Vol. 431 (No. 7010), pp. 859-62, (2004).
7- Guillaume A Rousselet, Marc J-M Macé, and Michèle Fabre-Thorpe, "Animal and human faces in natural scenes: How specific to human faces is the N170 ERP component?" Journal of vision, Vol. 4 (No. 1), pp. 2-2, (2004).
8- Marios G Philiastides, Tao Tu, and Paul Sajda, "Inferring macroscale brain dynamics via fusion of simultaneous EEG-fMRI." Annual Review of Neuroscience, Vol. 44pp. 315-34, (2021).
9- Christoph M Michel and Thomas Koenig, "EEG microstates as a tool for studying the temporal dynamics of whole-brain neuronal networks: a review." NeuroImage, Vol. 180pp. 577-93, (2018).
10- Zahra Tabanfar, Mohammad Firoozabadi, Zeinab Shankayi, and Guive Sharifi, "Screening of Brain Tumors Using Functional Connectivity Patterns of Steady-State Visually Evoked Potentials." Brain Connectivity, Vol. 12 (No. 10), pp. 883-91, (2022).
11- Ali Nouri and Zahra Tabanfar, "Detection of ADHD Disorder in Children using Layer-wise Relevance Propagation and Convolutional Neural Network: an EEG Analysis." Frontiers in Biomedical Technologies, (2023).
12- Zahra Tabanfar, Farnaz Ghassemi, and Mohammad Hassan Moradi, "A subject-independent SSVEP-based BCI target detection system based on fuzzy ordering of EEG task-related components." Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, Vol. 79p. 104171, (2023).
13- Catherine Manning, Eric-Jan Wagenmakers, Anthony M Norcia, Gaia Scerif, and Udo Boehm, "Perceptual decision-making in children: Age-related differences and EEG correlates." Computational Brain & Behavior, Vol. 4pp. 53-69, (2021).
14- Marios G Philiastides and Paul Sajda, "Temporal characterization of the neural correlates of perceptual decision making in the human brain." Cerebral cortex, Vol. 16 (No. 4), pp. 509-18, (2006).
15- Marios G Philiastides and Paul Sajda, "EEG-informed fMRI reveals spatiotemporal characteristics of perceptual decision making." Journal of Neuroscience, Vol. 27 (No. 48), pp. 13082-91, (2007).
16- Elaheh Imani, Ahad Harati, Hamidreza Pourreza, and Morteza Moazami Goudarzi, "Brain-behavior relationships in the perceptual decision-making process through cognitive processing stages." Neuropsychologia, Vol. 155p. 107821, (2021).
17- Yasmin K Georgie, Camillo Porcaro, Stephen D Mayhew, Andrew P Bagshaw, and Dirk Ostwald, "A perceptual decision making EEG/fMRI data set." BioRxiv, p. 253047, (2018).
18- Petr Tichavsky, Zbynek Koldovsky, Arie Yeredor, Germán Gómez-Herrero, and Eran Doron, "A hybrid technique for blind separation of non-Gaussian and time-correlated sources using a multicomponent approach." IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks, Vol. 19 (No. 3), pp. 421-30, (2008).
19- N Gholamipour and Farnaz Ghassemi, "Estimation of the independent components reliability of EEG signal in a clinical application." Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, Vol. 65p. 102336, (2021).
20- Ioannis Kalatzis, Nikolaos Piliouras, Eric Ventouras, Charalabos C Papageorgiou, Andreas D Rabavilas, and D Cavouras, "Design and implementation of an SVM-based computer classification system for discriminating depressive patients from healthy controls using the P600 component of ERP signals." Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, Vol. 75 (No. 1), pp. 11-22, (2004).
21- Zahra Tabanfar, Seyed Mohammad Firouzabadi, Zeynab Shankaei, Giv Sharifi, Kambiz Novin, and Anahita Zoghi, "Brain Tumor Detection Using Electroencephalogram Linear and Non-Linear Features." Iranian Journal of Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 10 (No. 3), pp. 211-21, (2016).
22- Sushmita Mitra and Jayanta Basak, "FRBF: a fuzzy radial basis function network." Neural Computing & Applications, Vol. 10pp. 244-52, (2001).
23- Lukas N Groschner, Laura Chan Wah Hak, Rafal Bogacz, Shamik DasGupta, and Gero Miesenböck, "Dendritic integration of sensory evidence in perceptual decision-making." Cell, Vol. 173 (No. 4), pp. 894-905. e13, (2018).
24- Amin Behzadnia, Farnaz Ghassemi, Soghra A Chermahini, Zahra Tabanfar, and Athena Taymourtash, "The neural correlation of sustained attention in performing conjunctive continuous performance task: an event-related potential study." Neuroreport, Vol. 29 (No. 11), pp. 954-61, (2018).
25- John W Rohrbaugh, Emanuel Donchin, and Charles W Eriksen, "Decision making and the P300 component of the cortical evoked response." Perception & Psychophysics, Vol. 15 (No. 2), pp. 368-74, (1974).
26- Aida Azlina Mansor, Salmi Mohd Isa, and Syaharudin Shah Mohd Noor, "P300 and decision-making in neuromarketing." Neuroscience Research Notes, Vol. 4 (No. 3), pp. 21-26, (2021).
27- Tian Liu, Yanni Chen, Pan Lin, and Jue Wang, "Small-World Brain Functional Networks in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Revealed by EEG Synchrony." Clin. EEG Neurosci., Vol. 46 (No. 3), pp. 183-91, 2015/07/01 (2014).
28- Kenta Kimura, Aya Murayama, Asako Miura, and Jun’ichi Katayama, "Effect of decision confidence on the evaluation of conflicting decisions in a social context." Neuroscience letters, Vol. 556pp. 176-80, (2013).
29- Minh Bao Pham, Nhi Yen Phan Xuan, Quoc Khai Le, and Quang Linh Huynh, "A Decision-Making Process Analysis Based on Prefrontal Hemispheric Asymmetry." in International Conference on the Development of Biomedical Engineering in Vietnam, (2022): Springer, pp. 838-56.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 13 No 1 (2026) | |
| Section | Original Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/fbt.v13i1.20784 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Perceptual Decision Making EEG Signals Statistical Analysis Fuzzy Radial Basis Function Network | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Barzegar Khanghah A, Tabanfar Z, Ghassemi F. Recognition of Healthy Individuals’ Perceptual Decisions Using Electroencephalogram Signals and Artificial Neural Networks. Frontiers Biomed Technol. 2026;13(1):187-198.
