On statistical properties of whole nerve cuff recordings

Abstract

Whole nerve cuff electrodes can record an electric signal generated by the superposition of single fiber action potentials (AP's). Using a simple stochastic model for the superposition of AP's, the statistical properties of nerve cuff signals are mathematically derived in this study. Consequences of common signal processing methods like rectification and time-averaging are also explained. The nerve cuff signals are found to be approximately identically, independently distributed Gaussian signals with zero mean and varying variance. The spectral properties of the cuff signals generated by single AP shape or different AP shapes are also addressed and investigated by examining the properties of the autocorrelation functions of the nerve cuff signals. The theoretical results were found to be in accordance with computer simulations and processing of actual recorded data.