EEG classification of resting state and arithmetic cognitive workload using functional connectivity of different frequency bands and machine learning techniques

This study aimed to perform a comparative study of the functional connectivity of different frequency bands for the identification of resting and arithmetic cognitive workload EEG using machine learning techniques. Functional connectivity was calculated from preprocessed EEGs for both rest and task states in 5 EEG sub-bands: alpha (8–13 Hz), theta (4–8 Hz), delta (1–4 Hz), gamma (30–45 Hz), and beta (13–30 Hz). This was done through Weighted Phase Lag Index (WPLI). After that, PCA was applied to the calculated feature vectors to decrease the dimensionality of the feature space. Eventually, the normalized chosen features were used as input for different machine learning-based classification models, and the performance was assessed through the leave-one-subject cross-validation (LOSOCV) algorithm. Experimental results showed that the classification results on the basis of the connectivity features of delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands were 90.27%, 77.78%, 62.50%, 62.50%, and 76.39%, respectively. The obtained results showed that used machine learning models and functional connectivity technique are successfully applied to detect mental workload from rest- and task-EEG. In summary, EEG functional connectivity in the delta frequency is a potent tool for comprehending the neural basis of mental workload and has significant applications in various fields.