EEG-Based Depression Detection using Time-frequency Representation and Transfer Learning Techniques on MODMA Dataset

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32350.umt-air.61.02

Keywords:

Electroencephalography, Major depressive disorder, MODMA, Deep learning, Transfer learning, Machine learning, Signal processing

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of people are affected by mental health issues, and depression is increasing rapidly. Present methods for depression detection include surveys, clinical interviews, and questionnaires that are very time-consuming and often not accurate. Many people do not express their feelings in interviews with doctors, or sometimes provide incorrect information. So, these techniques are not fully reliable. Using Electroencephalography (EEG) signals, the current study diagnosed depression in a better way since these signals record the brain activity directly. If the EEG shows some disturbance or unusual patterns in the brain activity, this means that the person is disturbed and facing depression. The MODMA dataset is a multimodal dataset that is widely used and medically tested for EEG signals. Many Machine Learning Algorithms (MLA’s), feature extraction techniques, and Deep Learning (DL) approaches have been applied to EEG for depression detection. However, the EEG signal is a 1-D signal that changes with respect to time, so it is sometimes used to detect depression. To solve this issue, researchers converted the EEG from a 1-D to a 2-D signal using time-frequency representation with transfer learning techniques. CNN-based pretrained models used for depression detection performed well on image data. Many studies showed that the combination of transfer learning with time-frequency representation is very effective and improves accuracy. This study primarily discussed transfer learning and time-frequency representation techniques for EEG-based depression detection. Finally, this technique would be used for other neurological disorders in the future.

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Published

2026-06-08

How to Cite

Fatima, R., Din, A. U., & Arsalan, A. (2026). EEG-Based Depression Detection using Time-frequency Representation and Transfer Learning Techniques on MODMA Dataset. UMT Artificial Intelligence Review, 6(1), 24–44. https://doi.org/10.32350.umt-air.61.02

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