Interpretable feature-transformer framework for cross-subject MCI detection using nonlinear dynamical and graph-theoretic EEG features
摘要
Early and accurate detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is essential for preventing progression toward Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this cross-subject study, we investigate the effectiveness of entropy- and graph-based EEG features for distinguishing MCI from healthy controls (HC), using two modeling approaches: (1) a Transformer network applied to the engineered feature set, and (2) an EEGNet model trained on the same feature representation for comparison. The dataset consists of resting-state, eyes-closed EEG recordings from 183 participants (127 HC, 56 MCI), collected using a 20-channel STAT™ X24 wireless system and segmented into 3-second epochs. EEG data underwent standard preprocessing, including band-pass filtering, downsampling, normalization, and class-balancing augmentation applied to the minority class. From each channel, nonlinear dynamical measures (e.g., sample and fuzzy entropy, Higuchi fractal dimension, Lyapunov exponent) and graph-theoretic connectivity descriptors derived from coherence matrices across five frequency bands were extracted, yielding a structured 19