RBDtector: an open-source software to detect REM sleep without atonia according to visual scoring criteria

Scientific Reports, vol. 12, pp. 20886

Abstract

REM sleep without atonia (RSWA) is a key feature for the diagnosis of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder (RBD). We introduce RBDtector, a novel open-source software to score RSWA according to established SINBAR visual scoring criteria. We assessed muscle activity of the mentalis, flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), and anterior tibialis (AT) muscles. RSWA was scored manually as tonic, phasic, and any activity by human scorers as well as using RBDtector in 20 subjects. Subsequently, 174 subjects (72 without RBD and 102 with RBD) were analysed with RBDtector to show the algorithm's applicability. We additionally compared RBDtector estimates to a previously published dataset. RBDtector showed robust conformity with human scorings. The highest congruency was achieved for phasic and any activity of the FDS. Combining mentalis any and FDS any, RBDtector identified RBD subjects with 100% specificity and 96% sensitivity applying a cut-off of 20.6%. Comparable performance was obtained without manual artefact removal. RBD subjects also showed muscle bouts of higher amplitude and longer duration. RBDtector provides estimates of tonic, phasic, and any activity comparable to human scorings. RBDtector, which is freely available, can help identify RBD subjects and provides reliable RSWA metrics.

Authors 15

1. Annika Röthenbacher

   Forschungszentrum Jülich

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany

2. Matteo Cesari

   Innsbruck Medical University · Universität Innsbruck

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

3. Christopher E. J. Doppler

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Str. 5, 52425, Jülich, Germany

4. Niels Okkels

   Aarhus University · Aarhus University Hospital

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

   Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

   Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

5. Nele Willemsen

   University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

6. Nora Sembowski

   University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

7. Aline Seger

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

   Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Str. 5, 52425, Jülich, Germany

8. Marie‐Sophie Lindner

   University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

9. Corinna Brune

   University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

10. Ambra Stefani

    Innsbruck Medical University · Universität Innsbruck

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

11. Birgit Högl

    Innsbruck Medical University · Universität Innsbruck

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

12. Stephan Bialonski Aachen Department of Medical Engineering and Technomathematics Institute for Data-Driven Technologies

    FH Aachen

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medical Engineering and Technomathematics, FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany

    Institute for Data-Driven Technologies, FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Jülich, Germany

13. Per Borghammer

    Aarhus University Hospital

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

14. Gereon R. Fink

    Forschungszentrum Jülich · University of Cologne · University Hospital Cologne

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Str. 5, 52425, Jülich, Germany

15. Michael Sommerauer corresponding

    Forschungszentrum Jülich · University of Cologne · Aarhus University Hospital · University Hospital Cologne

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. m.sommerauer@fz-juelich.de

    Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. m.sommerauer@fz-juelich.de

    Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Str. 5, 52425, Jülich, Germany. m.sommerauer@fz-juelich.de

    Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

    Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Leo-Brandt-Str. 5, 52425, Jülich, Germany