Computer quantification of delta activity in sleep EEG

The current project assessed the accuracy of a period-analytic computer program in the quantification of delta EEG activity during sleep for the purpose of the assignment of sleep stage. Ninety-four 25-sec epochs of data from two subjects were analyzed both using the computer and by two visual scorers in order to generate percent measures of the amount of delta in the EEG. This information was then used to assign stage score. A comparison of the inter-scorer and scorer/computer agreements showed good correspondence between them, with the human/computer contrasts being equivalent to the human/human contrasts. Data are presented for both the percent of delta in the records and for the agreement of stage score assignments. It was concluded that the computer program provided an acceptable alternative to human visual scoring. Suggestions as to how to implement digital computers in sleep research were presented.