Automatic recognition of interictal spikes.

This paper reviews numerous methods which have been developed for the automatic recognition of isolated epileptic spikes in the EEG. Computer displays of results and difficult problems caused by artefacts and non-epileptiform sharp transients are discussed. We then examine the complexity of validating the performance of automatic methods. The implementation of computer methods in a clinical environment has only rarely been attempted and some of the reasons for this situation are presented. Finally we review several research projects which relied heavily on using quantitative analysis of spike activity: studies of morphological characteristics of spikes and sharp waves and studies of the temporal and spatial distribution of interictal spikes in relation to seizure occurrences and stages of sleep.