ISBN 978-952-5726-00-8 (Print), 978-952-5726-01-5 (CD-ROM)

Proceedings of the 2009 International Symposium on Web Information Systems and Applications (WISA09)
Nanchang, P. R. China, May 22-24, 2009, pp. 529-532

The Processing of Electromyography Signal

Based on Wavelet Neural Network
Chen Xinben, Yang Guangying
Taizhou University Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
E-mail: chenxinben2005@163.com, ygy@tzc.edu.cn
Traditional processing regards the surface
electromyography signals as a zero-mean Gaussian
distribution with a changeable variance, where variance

AbstractThis paper introduces the wristwork pattern

recognition with the method of Auto-regressive (AR) Model
and Wavelet Neural Network (WNN). The correlation
between Surface Electromyography Signal (SEMG) and
wristwork has been researched based on the analysis of
these signals. A method is used to analyze SEMG signal due
to its unsteady characteristic based on wavelet transform.
The different motion pattern is recognized by extracting
Four-order AR coefficient. Then we construct the
coefficients as eigenvector and input it into WNN. The
experiment shows that pattern recognition rate of four
movements (flexor carpi, extensor carpi, intorsion and
extorsion) are all more than 80%. This paper finds the
WNN has many advantages such as self-learning, Selfadaptive, robust, fault-tolerance and generalization ability;
so WNN should be better than BP neural network.

actually represents the intensity of the surface

electromyography signal. Therefore, it is possible to

produce different control signal according to the 2

value. The processing is shown in Fig.1. The obvious
shortcoming of traditional processing regards is that the
information is not utilized completely. For this reason,
this paper adopts AR model and Wavelet Neural
Network
methods
to
process
the
surface
electromyography signal.

Index Termscomponent; Auto-regressive (AR) Model;

Surface Electromyography Signal (SEMG); Wavelet Neural
Networks (WNN); Back Propagation (BP)

I.

Blowup

Blowup

Square

Integral

Mt
Filterin
g

Absolute
value

Integral

Figure 1. Traditional Processing

B. AR Model
Parametric model is an important method for analysis
of electromyography signal, where the most typical is
AR Mode. Parametric modeling only requires the signal
to satisfy a condition of short-term stability, namely the
stability is only needed in the analyzed signal band, of
which electromyography signal is totally capable.
Time Sequence [3] is an arbitrary numerical series
arranged according to their time sequence. The analysis
aim is to reveal the change law and statistic
characteristics of the values implied in the arbitrary
signals. According to the AR models theoretical
analysis, we could see that the parameter selection is
critical. Proper parameters are conductive to the
recognition and parametrical evaluation of AR model.
The recognition of mode[4] evaluates the models
parameters with a stable model structure and degrees by
the means of auto covariance function and partial
correlation functions character of truncation according
to the information implied in a sample derived from the
time sequence.
The evaluation is divided into two categories: The
first one is direct evaluation which derives the model
parameters directly from observed data or statistic

RECOGNITION METHODS OF MUSCLE

ACTION MODE

A. Traditional processing of electromyography signal

This paper is supported by the project of technology
innovation in college students of Zhejiang province 2008
2009 ACADEMY PUBLISHER
AP-PROC-CS-09CN001

Filterin
g

SEMG

INTRODUCTION

Surface Electromyography Signal (SEMG) is the

bioelectric signal which sent by the neuromuscular
activities recorded by the electrode on the surface of
skeletal muscles. It reflected the functional status of
nerves and muscles[1]. Muscle action mode recognition
is a critical issue in the application of surface
electromyography signal in artificial limb. With the
development of research on neural network, a lot of
recognition methods of hand and wrist action based on
neural network were proposed by experts home and
abroad. The accuracy and fault tolerance and robustness
have seen great progress. What is the most prominent is
the Wavelet Neural Network [2].
The paper designs a circuit to collect surface
electromyography signal and with wavelet noise
eliminator before establishing an auto-regressive (AR)
model, to compute 4-order AR coefficient as
characteristic vector in Back propagation (BP) neural
network and Wavelet Neural Network (WNN). It studies
hand and wrist basic actions, effectively combining
thinking activities with artificial limb movements.
II.

SEMG

529

characteristics of the data; and the other is recursive

evaluation [3]. Since direct evaluation could directly
compute AR parameters by equation, therefore, this
paper adopts the directly derived AR parameter. The
choice of model order p poses great problems. According
to the past research and experiment [4], if the order is too
large, spectral splitting is likely to happen. If too small, it
might lead to insufficient resolution. Experiments show
that when the AR model order is set to 4, the signal
analysis and recognition are at optimal status. Higher
value of the order not only will not improve the
performance but also will add burden of computation.
Therefore, this paper adopt 4 order model.

a =1

function, we assume it as ( x1 x 2 ), x1 < x 2 As

aj =1

extension constant

i b
a

aj

l >> x x

1
2
,
number of hidden layer neural nerve
more connect weight of value 0 will be produced which
severely affects convergence rate of the network. Let

i bj

By now, extension
parameter and translation parameter b are all set.
Assume the output of the hidden layer is

p 1
while N is the number of
we have
samples.
The learning algorithm of wavelet neural network is
the same with that of BP network. However, as the
iteration expression of wavelet neural networks

(1, a1 , b1 )

y1

wk 1

then

Wkj = t kp u jp

hidden layer. As j j are different, therefore, the

transfer functions are bound to be different. The hidden
layer is the weighted sum of input sample and wavelet
extension function.
i

u ij

are wavelet extension translation parameters

which acts like transfer function for the nerve cell in

x1

distribute averagely in ( x1 x 2 ), we have

b j = i (1 ( x 2 x1 ) )
l
.

bj

x < ib < x

j
2
therefore 1
if not, connect
weight of value 0 will be produced, especially when the

C. Wavelet Neural Network

Wavelet neural network [5] as an important branch of
neural network is formed by combining wavelet theories
and multilayer artificial neural network. As shown in Fig.
2, and the different from BP network is the wavelet
(i, a j , b j ) = (

Let j
so as to set j conveniently.
To compute the support of the wavelet primary

transformation in neural network is different, the kj ,

the connect weight from output layer to hidden layer can
be expressed as:
E

n
= (tkp ykp)ykp(1 ykp)xip(i, ai ,bj )
wkj
i =1

(2)

x2

y2

xm

ym

( m, a m , b m )

wkj

The wavelet neural network in Fig.2 could be

expressed as following:
l

j =1

i =1

k=1, 2,, n

n
(1,aj ,bj )
E N m
)
= (tkp ykp)ykp(1 ykp)wkj(xip
aj p=1 k=1
aj
i=1

While,
we have:

bj

(3)

is wavelets translation parameters, then

n
(1,aj ,bj )
E N m
)
=(tkpykp)ykp(1ykp)wkj(xip
aj p=1 k=1
bj
i=1

(4)
The optimal choice of parameters in wavelet neutral
networks conducted according to the following equations:
E
wkj (q +1) = wkj (q) w
+wwkj (q)
wkj
(5)
E
aj (q +1) = aj (q) a
+a aj (q)
aj
(6)
E
bj (q +1) = bj (q) b
+b bj (q)
bj
(7)

Figure 2. Wavelet Neural Network for Classifying Signals

y k = f ( Wkj T (i, b j , b j )x j )

While, j is the wavelets extension parameters,

then we have:

(1)

In (5), (6) and (7) where

x
y k is the k
In (1): i is the I is input vector and

output vector. Wavelet function is the representative

value here and input function and wavelet functions
inner product as the input for the hidden layer.

w a b correspond

to w, a and b is updated learning rate and

w a

correspond to momentum term respectively. q

means it is the q times update, we have:
530

wkj = wkj (q) wkj (q 1)

b j = b j (q ) b j (q 1)

III.

a j = a j ( q ) a j ( q 1)

RECOGNITION APPLYING WAVELET NEURAL

NETWORK

A. Experimental Environments
The experimental system is shown in Fig.3: Data
collecting card PCI-6024E signal acquisition circuit
board, Labview8.0 and Matlab6.5 system produced by
NI Company based in the U.S. In the experiment, choose
a pair of surface electrode, and put them onto the
extensor carpi ulnaris and flexor carpi ulnaris of a
healthy male subject for the acquisition of the electric
signal on the surface muscles. The signals are output
from the circuit board to the NI collecting card PCI6024E. And Labview software will acquire sampled N

Figure 4. Labview Acquisition Program

C. Establish AR Model to Extract AR Coefficient

Extract 4-order AR coefficient which is established
upon electromyography signals and save the wavelet
parameters in their respective categories according to
their 4 modes. Table shows typical 4-order AR
coefficient derived from AR model of actions of
extending arms and lists the corresponding values for 5
actions. The acquired average values of the 4-order AR
coefficients, as the characteristic vector of the surface
electromyography signals, are used in the recognition of
action mode.

X n

point data N
, (n=01N-1), which finally
produces the sampling value of the electric signal of
surface electromyography. Apply Matlab6.5 on computer
to extract 4-order AR coefficient and complete data
import, and classification of BP network and WNN on
Matlab6.5 platform.

TABLE I.

Acquisition circuit
Data acquisition card
Wavelet AR Model
4-order
coefficient

AR

4-order
coefficient

BP network

The A0 (flexor) 4-order AR coefficients of

Electromyography Signals

A01

A02

A03

A04

0.06

0.02

-0.13

-0.37

-0.04

-0.09

-0.17

-0.23

-0.11

-0.19

-0.1

-0.42

0.22

-0.07

-0.08

0.38

0.15

-0.08

-0.15

D. Recognition Process of the Wavelet Neural Network

(WNN) Mode
Basic process of establishing a model based on
WNN:
y Analyze the parameters of the test system and
construct a WNN learning sample, namely the
data of input and output parameters.
y Choose a kernel function to confirm the learning
parameters of WNN. In put the learning sample,
and choose the optimal parameters according to
multiple learning results from which accurate
mapping between input and output parameters
could be obtained.
y Input the test parameter data and test them in the
trained WNN.
y Output test result.
Before the Recognition of WNN, training sample
needs to be prepared. There are two concrete methods
can be available in this respect: One is direct data input
in the form of list of characteristic vector; and the other
is to be dealt in form of creating a data file and read the
data via loading data function, reading directly from the
data file, MAT file or ASCII files etc. This paper adopts
the method of indirect input which increases the
readability of the program.
The experiment follows the procedures below: First,
pick 60 groups randomly from 100 groups characteristic

AR

WNN
Figure 3. Experimental System

B. Data Acquisition Program based on LabView

In the experiment, extensor carpi ulnaris and flexor
carpi ulnaris of the subject are treated with ethanol to
achieve maximum extraction of SEMG signals. After
differential amplification of the acquired data, conduct
the data acquisition via NI 6024E. Let the subject
exercise 200 groups of actions of cocking, extending,
intorting and extorting the wrists. Pick out 100 groups of
signals that are smooth and durable and save them into
categories.
Fig.4 manifests the functions of the Labview data
acquisition program, including: the setting of acquisition
channel, acquisition ratio and sampling acquisition ratio
followed by read through model via DAQ module. After
that, it read the data from the memory of the data
acquisition card via circulation module, and save the data
in the file via writing data. Data in the memory of
acquisition cards will be erased after the data reading
finished.

531

vector as the training sample, therefore, 4 action modes

would make the total number of training sample to 240
groups. In the program, every line represents a type of
sample and corresponds to its set training value. Second,
pick 15 groups out of the surplus 40 groups of each mode
as test sample. Here we would have total 60 groups in
this category. Third, Exercise the training. The output
parameters are the training results. Physically speaking,
they could be regarded as latticework parameters which
are used for the input during the test and recognition of
new samples. Fourth, statistical results with a recognition
ratio, 1 represents correct recognition is, 0 erroneous
ones.
The recognition results of the same data group in 2
types categorizer is shown by Table. The recognition
ratios of the four modes by the categorizer are all over
80%. This proves that the 4-order AR coefficient derived
from establishing the AR model could represent the
muscle action mode, where the recognition performance
of WNN is better than that of BP network. The
experiment fully demonstrated the advantages of WNN
through pattern recognition of the same data in 2
different categorizers. This paper found that the
recognition time of WNN was substantially shorter than
other categorizers with a better performance.

IV.

The experiment demonstrates that by analyzing

surface electromyography signals and extracting 4-order
AR coefficient from AR model to form signal
characteristic vectors as well as WNN categorizer
movement recognition, the electromyography signals of
flexor carpi, extensor carpi, intorsion and extorsion
wrists could be recognized. Comparing to traditional BP
neural network categorizers, the proposed one enjoys
better performance in terms of categorization,
recognition ratio and robustness. The experiment proved
that it is viable and effective to extract from surface
electromyography signals based on the AR mode and use
WNN as a categorizing tool to recognize movement in
the application of recognizing wrist movement.
This paper only focuses on the basic research on
recognizing the wrist muscle movement. The subject
holds significant meanings both in terms of theories and
application. And yet, a lot of work needs to be done. In
regard to the electromyography signals acquisition, this
paper adopts real-life sample signals collected by the
writers. However, due to limited experimental conditions,
many elements in the signal acquisition were not
included and the signals were subject to interference. To
address these shortcomings, we are considering
cooperating with local hospitals to complete more
accurate movement recognition.

TABLE II. The Recognition Performance of Data Acquisition in 2

types of Categorizer.
Flexor

Extensor

Intorsion

Extorting

Total

BP

80

86.6

86.6

80

83.3

WNN

93.3

86.6

100

93

93.3

CONCLUSION

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[2] Wang Xinchun, Wang Baobao. The Recognition of Human
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Development, 2003, 13(6), 27-28.
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Communication University 2005,39(3),400-404.
[4] Liu Jiahai. Evaluation Research on Muscular Function
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[5] Jun Zhang, et al. Wavelet neural networks for function
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The experiment analyzes whether the movement are

convergent or not by the help of error. The degree of
convergence of the movement recognition is clearly
shown in Fig.5.

[6] Cui Jianguo, LI Yibo, LI Zhonghai etal. Research on

Surface
Electromyographic
Signal
Pattern
Categorization based on Bayes Decision-making
Theory[J].Computation Journal,2007,28(1),89-93.

Figure 5. Error Analysis Chart

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