mne-tools / mne-tools/mne-python

The unit of the "Spectrum" subplot in the ICA properties figure

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Description

When calling ICA.plot_properties(), the ordinate of the subplot titled "Spectrum" is labeled "AU^2/Hz (dB)":

(taken from https://mne.tools/stable/auto_tutorials/preprocessing/40_artifact_correction_ica.html#looking-at-the-ica-solution)

  • Why "AU" and not the unit of the sensor type (e.g., µV for EEG)?
  • dB here means – what? That the plotted value is 10 log10 (AU^2/Hz)?
  • Why is the subplot titled "Spectrum" and not "PSD"? Seems inconsistent with our naming elsewhere?

A comparable figure produced by EEGLAB looks like this:

I102spectopo

(taken from https://eeglab.org/tutorials/08_Plot_data/Plotting_ICA_components.html)

Or am I reading this wrong?

I feel that the axis label there makes it much clearer to understand what's being shown.

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Research direction

Start at the ICA.plot_properties() entry point and inspect how the "Spectrum" subplot and its ordinate label are produced. Compare the displayed quantity and units with the documentation example and related PSD plots; done means the title and axis label accurately describe the plotted values for the supported sensor types.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
data-visualization
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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