Reduction of the Ballistocardiogram Artifact in Simultaneous EEG-fMRI using ICA.

The recording of EEG signals during fMRI scanning is now technically feasible and safe. However, artifacts relating to pulsatile blood flow (the ballistocardiogram) may still be prominently present in EEG data recorded in the MRI magnet. The application of Independent Component Analysis (ICA) in order to reduce these artifacts off-line was investigated in three different types of EEG, one normal Visually Evoked Potential (VEP), one normal ongoing EEG in a normal subject and the EEG of an epilepsy patient showing abnormal transients in the EEG. Results show that ICA is effective in reducing these pulsation artifacts, but that remaining signal quality may be affected.