A common strategy and database to compare the performance of seizure prediction algorithms.

A reliable algorithm for the timely prediction of epileptic seizures would be a milestone in epilepsy research. Prediction performances have so far been determined using retrospective data assessment, leaving open the question as to whether they prove statistically significant and clinically useful under prospective conditions. To this aim, a Seizure Prediction Competition has been set up. Here, the background and the details of this competition are described. (c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.