Electroencephalogram signal characterization of tinnitus patients based on sample entropy algorithm and wavelet transform

Abstract

Abstract Tinnitus is a disembodied, abnormal sound hallucination in the ear or skull, such as buzzing or hissing, in the absence of an external sound source. Tinnitus is a subjective sensation with no objective observable signs, and its causes are extremely complex. This paper explores the differences in sample entropy of EEG signals between tinnitus patients and normal subjects at different electrodes, using the non-parametric test Kruskal-Wallis test to find areas where there are significant differences between the different lateral tinnitus groups and the control group. Thirty tinnitus patients and 10 healthy controls were used to participate in the scalp EEG signal acquisition. The wavelet transform was first chosen to obtain the activity of each frequency band of the EEG, and then the electrophysiological differences between the two experimental groups were investigated by comparing the sample entropy of the EEG of the tinnitus patients with that of the healthy controls. The results reflect significant differences (p<0.05) in tinnitus patients at FT7, T7, C5, C6, TP7 and CP5 electrodes, mainly in the Delta band. These results compare the abnormalities of sample entropy in the resting state of patients with tinnitus on different sides of the ear with those of controls from an electroneuro-physiological perspective, and are expected to be used as a potential characteristic indicator to distinguish normal people from tinnitus patients for the auxiliary diagnosis of tinnitus and to provide physicians with an aid in diagnosing depressed patients.