# Global ECG Classification by Self-Operational Neural Networks with Feature Injection

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2204.03768 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.03768/

## Key facts

- Cited by 9 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 13 of its 61 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 7 Apr 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 13 of 13)

- [Empirical Evaluation of Gated Recurrent Neural Networks on Sequence Modeling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1412.3555/) (2014)
- [1D Convolutional Neural Networks and Applications: A Survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1905.03554/) (2019)
- [Self-Organized Operational Neural Networks with Generative Neurons](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.11778/) (2020)
- [Operational Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1902.11106/) (2019)
- [Self-Organized Operational Neural Networks for Severe Image Restoration Problems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2008.12894/) (2020)
- [FastONN -- Python based open-source GPU implementation for Operational Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.02267/) (2020)
- [Heterogeneous Multilayer Generalized Operational Perceptron](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1804.05093/) (2018)
- [Exploiting Heterogeneity in Operational Neural Networks by Synaptic Plasticity](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2009.08934/) (2020)
- [Real-Time Patient-Specific ECG Classification by 1D Self-Operational Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.02215/) (2021)
- [Robust Peak Detection for Holter ECGs by Self-Organized Operational Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.02381/) (2021)
- [Robust R-Peak Detection in Low-Quality Holter ECGs using 1D Convolutional Neural Network](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2101.01666/) (2020)
- [Super Neurons](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.01594/) (2021)
- [Inter-Patient ECG Classification with Convolutional and Recurrent Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1810.04121/) (2018)

## Built on by (most cited first, 9 of 9)

- [Zero-Shot Motor Health Monitoring by Blind Domain Transition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.06154/) (2022)
- [Blind Restoration of Real-World Audio by 1D Operational GANs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.14618/) (2022)
- [A Systematic Review of ECG Arrhythmia Classification: Adherence to Standards, Fair Evaluation, and Embedded Feasibility](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.07276/) (2025)
- [ECG-Soup: Harnessing Multi-Layer Synergy for ECG Foundation Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.00102/) (2025)
- [Exploring Sound vs Vibration for Robust Fault Detection on Rotating Machinery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.10742/) (2023)
- [High-Quality and Full Bandwidth Seismic Signal Synthesis using Operational GANs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.11040/) (2024)
- [BRSR-OpGAN: Blind Radar Signal Restoration using Operational Generative Adversarial Network](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.13949/) (2024)
- [Information-theoretic Multimodal Representation Learning for Electrocardiogram Signals](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.27583/) (2026)
- [Multi-Pass, Multi-View Blended Learning for High-Fidelity Volumetric CT Synthesis from Chest X-Rays](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.09920/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Objective: Global (inter-patient) ECG classification for arrhythmia detection over Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal is a challenging task for both humans and machines. The main reason is the significant variations of both normal and arrhythmic ECG patterns among patients. Automating this process with utmost accuracy is, therefore, highly desirable due to the advent of wearable ECG sensors. However, even with numerous deep learning approaches proposed recently, there is still a notable gap in the performance of global and patient-specific ECG classification performances. This study proposes a novel approach to narrow this gap and propose a real-time solution with shallow and compact 1D Self-Organized Operational Neural Networks (Self-ONNs). Methods: In this study, we propose a novel approach for inter-patient ECG classification using a compact 1D Self-ONN by exploiting morphological and timing information in heart cycles. We used 1D Self-ONN layers to automatically learn morphological representations from ECG data, enabling us to capture the shape of the ECG waveform around the R peaks. We further inject temporal features based on RR interval for timing characterization. The classification layers can thus benefit from both temporal and learned features for the final arrhythmia classification. Results: Using the MIT-BIH arrhythmia benchmark database, the proposed method achieves the highest classification performance ever achieved, i.e., 99.21% precision, 99.10% recall, and 99.15% F1-score for normal (N) segments; 82.19% precision, 82.50% recall, and 82.34% F1-score for the supra-ventricular ectopic beat (SVEBs); and finally, 94.41% precision, 96.10% recall, and 95.2% F1-score for the ventricular-ectopic beats (VEBs).