Modulation of High-Frequency EEG Rhythms under Conditions of the Activation Reaction: Dependence on Psychological Characteristics of Personality

Abstract

In a group of 118 adults of both sexes, we studied modulation of high-frequency EEG rhythms (β and γ components) under conditions of EEG activation related to opening of the eyes. Typical changes in the α rhythm (significant depression in the overwhelming majority of the tested subjects) was accompanied by different (in direction and intensity) shifts of the spectral powers (SPs) of the β and γ components in different subjects. The power of the β1 subcomponent under conditions of the activation reaction increased in 6 persons and dropped in 109 persons; changes in this index in two hemispheres were opposite in their directions in 3 subjects. Thus, changes in the β1 SP upon opening of the eyes were nearly parallel to those of the α rhythm but less intense. The subgroups differentiated according to the pattern of reactivity of the β2 subcomponent included 23, 85, and 10 subjects; for the γ rhythm, the corresponding numbers were 31, 72, and 8. In other words, the patterns of reactivity of β2 and γ oscillations were rather similar to each other but differed significantly from the pattern for the β1 rhythm. Values of the differential coefficients of reactivity (DCRs) of the β1, β2, and γ rhythms demonstrated significant correlations that were especially close for the β2 and γ activity. Within the entire examined group, we found significant negative correlations of the DCR values for β and γ activities with the estimates of some psychological characteristics of the subjects (levels of neuroticism, psychoticism, plasticity, self-control of behavior, and some others) measured using the RTS (Strelau), EPQ (Eysenck), OST (Rusalov), and 16PF (Kettel) questionnaires. The dispersion analysis demonstrated that the above-mentioned subgroups of the subjects (with increase and decrease in the SPs of the β and γ rhythms in both hemispheres and opposite changes of these indices in the right and left hemisphere) showed significant or close to significant specific intergroup differences of a few mean values of the psychological characteristics estimated according to the above questionnaires. Possible mechanisms of modulation of high-frequency EEG components under conditions of the reaction of EEG activation and relations of such changes to the psychological characteristics of the personality are discussed.

The manifestation of individual differences in sensitivity to punishment during resting state is modulated by eye state

“…threat detection, escape/avoidance) states. Supporting this hypothesis, previous studies showed that eye state modulated the relationship between high frequency and low frequency EEG rhythms and the neuroticism trait from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (Konareva, 2011a(Konareva, , 2011b. Furthermore, fMRI studies have shown that blood oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signals of key regions within the defensive system, such as the hippocampus and amygdala, are modulated by EO and EC conditions (Ben-Simon et al, 2008;Jao et al, 2013;Liu et al, 2013;Wiesmann et al, 2006).…”

Brain differences associated with personality traits: a structural and resting-state fMRI approach

“…Moreover, a previous study investigating differences in FC between individuals with generalized anxiety disorder and controls showed that there were some differences that were irrespective of eye status, but also that some differences only manifested during a specific eye condition (W. . Notably, a previous EEG study showed how eye state modulated the relationship between frequency bands and diverse personality factors, including neuroticism (Konareva, 2011). Despite this evidence, no study has investigated whether or not eye state modulates the manifestation of personality factors in fMRI resting state paradigms.…”