Standard multiscale entropy reflects neural dynamics at mismatched temporal scales: What's signal irregularity got to do with it?

PLoS Comput Biol. 2020 May 11;16(5):e1007885. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007885. eCollection 2020 May.

Abstract

Multiscale Entropy (MSE) is used to characterize the temporal irregularity of neural time series patterns. Due to its' presumed sensitivity to non-linear signal characteristics, MSE is typically considered a complementary measure of brain dynamics to signal variance and spectral power. However, the divergence between these measures is often unclear in application. Furthermore, it is commonly assumed (yet sparingly verified) that entropy estimated at specific time scales reflects signal irregularity at those precise time scales of brain function. We argue that such assumptions are not tenable. Using simulated and empirical electroencephalogram (EEG) data from 47 younger and 52 older adults, we indicate strong and previously underappreciated associations between MSE and spectral power, and highlight how these links preclude traditional interpretations of MSE time scales. Specifically, we show that the typical definition of temporal patterns via "similarity bounds" biases coarse MSE scales-that are thought to reflect slow dynamics-by high-frequency dynamics. Moreover, we demonstrate that entropy at fine time scales-presumed to indicate fast dynamics-is highly sensitive to broadband spectral power, a measure dominated by low-frequency contributions. Jointly, these issues produce counterintuitive reflections of frequency-specific content on MSE time scales. We emphasize the resulting inferential problems in a conceptual replication of cross-sectional age differences at rest, in which scale-specific entropy age effects could be explained by spectral power differences at mismatched temporal scales. Furthermore, we demonstrate how such problems may be alleviated, resulting in the indication of scale-specific age differences in rhythmic irregularity. By controlling for narrowband contributions, we indicate that spontaneous alpha rhythms during eyes open rest transiently reduce broadband signal irregularity. Finally, we recommend best practices that may better permit a valid estimation and interpretation of neural signal irregularity at time scales of interest.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Electroencephalography / methods*
  • Entropy*
  • Humans
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted*

Grants and funding

This study was conducted within the ‘Lifespan Neural Dynamics Group’ within the Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research in the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (MPIB) in Berlin, Germany. DDG and NAK were supported by an Emmy Noether Programme grant (to DDG) from the German Research Foundation, and by the Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research. JQK is a pre-doctoral fellow supported by the International Max Planck Research School on Computational Methods in Psychiatry and Ageing Research (IMPRS COMP2PSYCH). The participating institutions are the Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany, and University College London, London, UK. For more information, see https://www.mps-ucl-centre.mpg.de/en/comp2psych. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.