WTools: A MATLAB-based toolbox for time-frequency analysis of infant data

Abstract

Electroencephalography (EEG) is an established method for investigating neurocognitive functions during human development. In cognitive neuroscience, time-frequency analysis of the EEG is a widely used analytical approach. This paper introduces WTools, a new MATLAB-based toolbox for time-frequency analysis of EEG signals using complex wavelet transformation. WTools features an intuitive GUI that guides users through the analysis steps, focusing on essential parameters. Being free and open-source, it can be integrated and expanded with new features, making it a handy tool that is growing its popularity in developmental cognitive neuroscience. While the default settings follow established pipelines in developmental research, the toolbox also provides the flexibility to accommodate settings more commonly used in adult neuroscience. Here, we provide a detailed description of the WTools algorithm for wavelet transformation and we compare it with state-of-the-art methods implemented in EEGLAB. Alongside the official tool release, we offer a comprehensive, illustrated tutorial with sample infant EEG data designed to support novice users, enhance accessibility and promote the transparent and reproducible usage of WTools.