Observations on the application of the correlation dimension and correlation integral to the prediction of seizures

The authors reexamine the correlation integral and the related correlation dimension in the context of EEG analysis with application to seizure predic tion. They identify dependencies of the correlation integral and the correl ation dimension on frequency and amplitude of the signal, which may result in a reinterpretation of the dynamic importance of these measures and may c ast doubts on their predictive abilities for certain classes of seizures. T he relevance, for clinical and research purposes, of the distinction betwee n retrospective and prospective inference (prediction) is addressed briefly . The authors point to the need for further research, consisting of long ti me series, containing multiple seizures, and for the development of objecti ve prediction criteria.