MEPFeatX—automated feature extraction of motor-evoked potentials in transcranial magnetic stimulation

Abstract

Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are an important measure in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) when assessing neuronal excitability in clinical diagnostics related to motor function, as well as in neuroscience research. However, manual feature extraction from large datasets can be time-consuming and prone to human error, and valuable features, such as MEP polyphasia and duration, are often neglected. Several packages have been developed to simplify the process; however, they are often tailored to specific studies or are not accessible. Here, we introduce MEPFeatX, a verified MATLAB package designed for automated and comprehensive MEP feature extraction across a wide range of stimulation paradigms. MEPFeatX is designed and documented for easy integration into any MEP analysis pipeline. Primed templates for specific paradigms, as well as additional analysis coded in R language, are also provided. Thus, MEPFeatX provides its users with a comprehensive and accurate set of MEP features, along with their visuals, facilitating quick and reliable MEP analysis in TMS studies.