Comparative Study of Spectrograms and Scalograms for Fetal Electrocardiogram Analysis in Healthcare: Unveiling the Trade-Offs Between Time and Frequency Resolution

This paper presents a comparative analysis of spectrograms and scalograms for ECG signal analysis, focusing on the trade-offs between time and frequency resolution. Previous studies have explored these techniques individually, but a systematic comparison considering various window types, wavelet families, and parameter settings is lacking. Our research fills this gap by conducting a comprehensive investigation to unveil the strengths and limitations of spectrograms and scalograms in capturing the complex features of mixed fetal and maternal ECG signals. Through extensive experimentation, we demonstrate that the choice of wavelet family significantly impacts the analysis results. Among the wavelets examined, the Symlet wavelet emerges as a powerful tool for optimal analysis of fetal and maternal activities. We highlight its ability to capture intricate details and patterns, showcasing its superior performance compared to other wavelet families.