The　serious　impact　of　electromyogram　(EMG)　contamination　of　electroencephalogram　(EEG)　is　well　recognised.　The　objective　of　this　research　is　to　demonstrate　that　combining　independent　component　analysis　with　the　surface　Laplacian　can　eliminate　EMG　contamination　of　the　EEG,　and　to　validate　that　this　processing　does　not　degrade　expected　neurogenic　signals.　The　method　involves　sequential　application　of　ICA,　using　a　manual　procedure　to　identify　and　discard　EMG　components,　followed　by　the　surface　Laplacian.　The　extent　of　decontamination　is　quantified　by　comparing　processed　EEG　with　EMG-free　data　that　was　recorded　during　pharmacologically　induced　neuromuscular　paralysis.　The　combination　of　the　ICA　procedure　and　the　surface　Laplacian,　with　a　flexible　spherical　spline,　results　in　a　strong　suppression　of　EMG　contamination　at　all　scalp　sites　and　frequencies.　Furthermore,　the　ICA　and　surface　Laplacian　procedure　does　not　impair　the　detection　of　well-known,　cerebral　responses;　alpha　activity　with　eyes-closed;　ERP　components　(N1,　P2)　in　response　to　an　auditory　oddball　task;　and　steady　state　responses　to　photic　and　auditory　stimulation.　Finally,　more　flexible　spherical　splines　increase　the　suppression　of　EMG　by　the　surface　Laplacian.　We　postulate　this　is　due　to　ICA　enabling　the　removal　of　local　muscle　sources　of　EMG　contamination　and　the　Laplacian　transform　being　insensitive　to　distant　(postural)　muscle　EMG　contamination.　(C)　2014　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.