<p>Based on your comments I interpret your question as:</p>

<p><strong><em>"(1) What is the definition of the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) and (2) how do I determine the SNR for event-related potential (ERP) amplitudes in an EEG signal?".</em></strong></p>

<p>(1) <strong><a href="http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Signal-to-noise_ratio_in_neuroscience" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Signal-to-noise-ratio</a> (SNR)</strong> is a term often encountered in electrophysiology (e.g. <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/eeg/basics/definition/prc-20014093" rel="nofollow noreferrer">EEG</a>) and signal processing and can be loosely defined as the ratio of the relevant signal divided by the noise level. The signal in this example is the ERP amplitude, while the noise is the remaining background activity in the EEG that distorts the ERP (unwanted noise). Noise includes hardware noise, movement artifacts by the subjects, random synchronized brain activity and so on. So SNR = signal/noise.</p>

<p>(2) In case of ERP amplitude being the signal you are after, than the noise is the amplitude of the background EEG (SNR<sub>ERP_amplitude</sub> = ERP<sub>amplitude</sub> / NOISE<sub>amplitude</sub>). The ERP amplitude can be defined by determining peak amplitude (e.g. relative to baseline). A straightforward (and widely accepted method) to characterize noise amplitude is determining the standard deviation (SD) of the entire EEG epoch (e.g., 500 ms) in which the ERP was recorded (<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105381190901297X#" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hu et al., 2010</a>). Then, the <strong>SNR</strong> becomes ERP<sub>amplitude</sub> / SD<sub>EEGepoch</sub>. </p>

<p>PS: your comment </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If the variance approaches to zero, then theory tells me that SNR goes to infinity (a really good signal), but the signal that I will have is useless.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>is incorrect. The signal is always part of the EEG epoch. Assuming there is a measurable ERP on a flatline background EEG (amplitude=0), than the signal will be the only thing that adds to the noise component. This is counter intuitive, but note that when noise amplitude is defined as, e.g., the SD, than this SD will be very small as it is determined across the entire EEG epoch. Hence, the peak-amplitude of the ERP will be much larger than the SD. In this ideal ERP recording the SNR will be large, but it will <em>never become infinitely large</em>. </p>

<p><sub><strong>Reference</strong><br>
<strong>-</strong> <a href="http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Signal-to-noise_ratio_in_neuroscience" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hu <em>et al</em>., <em>NeuroImage</em> (2010); <strong>50</strong>(1): 99-111</a></sub> </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-03T11:26:59.863Z
2017-06-30T20:55:33.393Z
2017-06-30T20:55:33.393Z
AliceD
<p>I often encounter publications where the authors try to "increase the SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals". Some define a numeric value of SNR of EEG signals, but I am confused as to the exact <strong>definition of the SNR</strong> and <strong>how it can be measured</strong> for ERPs?</p>

<p>Previously, I have calculated the SNR using a model of noise, for example a Gaussian model. I have also encountered SNR calculations based on a ratio between the mean and the standard deviation of a signal, but both of these approaches seem to be impractical. When I process the EEG signal, I would like to emphasize how the ERP changes in the EEG signal. All of this is strongly related with variance. If the variance approaches to zero, then theory tells me that SNR goes to infinity (a really good signal), but the signal that I will have is useless.</p>

<p>Is there a better way to measure the SNR then I have mentioned?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-27T16:28:35.433Z
A little more background on what you know about SNR and EEG would be helpful. For example, what do you know about SNR? What do you know about EEG? Also, I think the "signal" off EEG depends on what you're trying to measure.
Seanny123
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-27T16:36:09.990Z
@Seanny123 when we was measure SNR we was take a model of noise for example a Gaussian model . I have seen also that we divide the mean over standard deviation , but the last one seems to be unpractical to do this on EEG , does it?
Learner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-27T17:52:18.813Z
This clarification is useful and should probably be added to the main question as an edit. I'm sorry that I cannot answer you query myself.
Seanny123
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-27T18:06:38.713Z
@Seanny123, I hope this editing will make things more clearly.
Learner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-28T10:49:24.657Z
As indicated by @Seanny123, SNR depends on what you are measuring. As of now I can't really see what you are analyzing (amplitude and/or latency of evoked potentials? amplitude or peak-frequency of FFT spectrum (i.e., frequency bands?))
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-30T14:46:54.573Z
@ChrisStronks I thought SNR is a concept related to the signal itself. I means SNR will be the same in time domain or frequency domain. anyway I will read more deeply on this concept, then I will answer you, thanks for your Clarifications.
Learner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-31T11:22:05.413Z
@Learner - The signal-to-noise ratio depends on the signal (the thing you are after, e.g., ERP amplitude, ERP latency, peak frequency etc) and the noise is basically everything that obscures the signal. To answer this question I would need more information on this (perhaps others here do not :-)
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-01T15:56:02.160Z
@ChrisStronks ,your definition of SNR is a part of the answer which I looking for :)
Learner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-01T16:22:19.453Z
@ChrisStronks, lets assume we want to measure ERP amplitude(Perhaps people who see or will see this  question interesting in another measures) , how SNR will be measure?
Learner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-03T11:28:14.673Z
@Learner - I have edited your question. Please feel free to roll back, it is merely a suggested edit as you indicate your English is not so well. Asking a proper question is 99% of the answer!
AliceD
<methodology><eeg><event-related-potential>
How is the signal-to-noise ratio of an event-related-potential measured?
Learner
# How is the signal-to-noise ratio of an event-related-potential measured?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-12-27)

I often encounter publications where the authors try to "increase the SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) of electroencephalogram (EEG) signals". Some define a numeric value of SNR of EEG signals, but I am confused as to the exact **definition of the SNR** and **how it can be measured** for ERPs?

Previously, I have calculated the SNR using a model of noise, for example a Gaussian model. I have also encountered SNR calculations based on a ratio between the mean and the standard deviation of a signal, but both of these approaches seem to be impractical. When I process the EEG signal, I would like to emphasize how the ERP changes in the EEG signal. All of this is strongly related with variance. If the variance approaches to zero, then theory tells me that SNR goes to infinity (a really good signal), but the signal that I will have is useless.

Is there a better way to measure the SNR then I have mentioned?

**Tags:** methodology, eeg, event-related-potential

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: A little more background on what you know about SNR and EEG would be helpful. For example, what do you know about SNR? What do you know about EEG? Also, I think the "signal" off EEG depends on what you're trying to measure.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 when we was measure SNR we was take a model of noise for example a Gaussian model . I have seen also that we divide the mean over standard deviation , but the last one seems to be unpractical to do this on EEG , does it?  
> **username_1**: This clarification is useful and should probably be added to the main question as an edit. I'm sorry that I cannot answer you query myself.  
> **username_0**: @username_1, I hope this editing will make things more clearly.  
> **username_2**: As indicated by @username_1, SNR depends on what you are measuring. As of now I can't really see what you are analyzing (amplitude and/or latency of evoked potentials? amplitude or peak-frequency of FFT spectrum (i.e., frequency bands?))  
> **username_0**: @ChrisStronks I thought SNR is a concept related to the signal itself. I means SNR will be the same in time domain or frequency domain. anyway I will read more deeply on this concept, then I will answer you, thanks for your Clarifications.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 - The signal-to-noise ratio depends on the signal (the thing you are after, e.g., ERP amplitude, ERP latency, peak frequency etc) and the noise is basically everything that obscures the signal. To answer this question I would need more information on this (perhaps others here do not :-)  
> **username_0**: @ChrisStronks ,your definition of SNR is a part of the answer which I looking for :)  
> **username_0**: @ChrisStronks, lets assume we want to measure ERP amplitude(Perhaps people who see or will see this  question interesting in another measures) , how SNR will be measure?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 - I have edited your question. Please feel free to roll back, it is merely a suggested edit as you indicate your English is not so well. Asking a proper question is 99% of the answer!  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-01-03. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

Based on your comments I interpret your question as:

***"(1) What is the definition of the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) and (2) how do I determine the SNR for event-related potential (ERP) amplitudes in an EEG signal?".***

(1) **[Signal-to-noise-ratio](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Signal-to-noise_ratio_in_neuroscience) (SNR)** is a term often encountered in electrophysiology (e.g. [EEG](http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/eeg/basics/definition/prc-20014093)) and signal processing and can be loosely defined as the ratio of the relevant signal divided by the noise level. The signal in this example is the ERP amplitude, while the noise is the remaining background activity in the EEG that distorts the ERP (unwanted noise). Noise includes hardware noise, movement artifacts by the subjects, random synchronized brain activity and so on. So SNR = signal/noise.

(2) In case of ERP amplitude being the signal you are after, than the noise is the amplitude of the background EEG (SNRERP\_amplitude = ERPamplitude / NOISEamplitude). The ERP amplitude can be defined by determining peak amplitude (e.g. relative to baseline). A straightforward (and widely accepted method) to characterize noise amplitude is determining the standard deviation (SD) of the entire EEG epoch (e.g., 500 ms) in which the ERP was recorded ([Hu et al., 2010](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S105381190901297X#)). Then, the **SNR** becomes ERPamplitude / SDEEGepoch.

PS: your comment

> If the variance approaches to zero, then theory tells me that SNR goes to infinity (a really good signal), but the signal that I will have is useless.

is incorrect. The signal is always part of the EEG epoch. Assuming there is a measurable ERP on a flatline background EEG (amplitude=0), than the signal will be the only thing that adds to the noise component. This is counter intuitive, but note that when noise amplitude is defined as, e.g., the SD, than this SD will be very small as it is determined across the entire EEG epoch. Hence, the peak-amplitude of the ERP will be much larger than the SD. In this ideal ERP recording the SNR will be large, but it will *never become infinitely large*.

**Reference**  
**-** [Hu *et al*., *NeuroImage* (2010); **50**(1): 99-111](http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Signal-to-noise_ratio_in_neuroscience)


---

