LSNN Model: A Lightweight Spiking Neural Network-Based Depression Classification Model for Wearable EEG Sensors

Depression detection via wearable Electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor-assisted diagnosis system demands computationally efficient models compatible with resource-constrained edge devices. Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) offer inherent advantages for processing the spatio-temporal patterns of EEG through event-driven neuromorphic computing. In this study, we innovatively present LSNNet, a lightweight SNN model specifically designed for wearable EEG sensors. The model exhibits low computational complexity with 7.18 K parameters and 67.68 M Floating-Point Operations (FLOPs). It requires only 246.88 KB of Random Access Memory (RAM) and 57.33 KB of Read-Only Memory (ROM) for on-board execution, and has been validated on both the single-core STM32U535CET6 and the multi-core GAP8 microcontrollers. Despite its minimal computational and memory requirements, LSNNet achieves impressive performance metrics, with a classification accuracy of 89.2%, specificity of 92.4%, and sensitivity of 86.4% in independent tests conducted on EEG data collected from 73 depressed patients and 108 healthy controls using our three-lead EEG sensor. Especially, when running on the GAP8 microcontroller, the LSNNet model has a low power consumption of 21.43 mW and a satisfactory inference time of 0.63 s while maintaining a classification accuracy of 87.5% (only with a reduction of 1.98% ). These results underscore the potential of integrating wearable EEG sensors with the LSNNet model for depression detection in the Internet of Things (IoT) era.