Relation Between Frontal Alpha Asymmetry and Anxiety in Young Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

Frontal alpha asymmetry (the relative difference in power between two signals in different hemispheres) has been suggested as biomarker for anxiety. The goal of this study was to evaluate alpha asymmetry in the frontal region for young people (7-18 years) with generalized anxiety disorder, diagnosed according to two statistic manuals (DMS-IV-R and ICD-10), the medical history and the neuropsychological assessment. The QEEG recording and analysis of the obtained results from alpha spectra power and log of alpha spectra power are made in four conditions (eyes open, eyes closed, VCPT and ACPT). The obtained results for alpha power in general showed higher cortical activity in the right hemisphere, associated with negative emotions. The calculated alpha asymmetry separate for eyes open, eyes closed, VCPT and ACPT conditions showed the right activation in all four conditions. In addition, the right frontal asymmetry was specific for the Fp(1)-Fp(2) region, while a greater left frontal activation was recorded for the F(7)-F(8) region. The log of alpha power in general was additionally analyzed. The calculated asymmetry score in general (in a way that the left log transformed score was subtracted from the right) confirmed a greater right activation. Testing the power of the whole alpha band (μV(2)) in general, for all four conditions and for frontal region confirmed the right alpha asymmetries in all participants. The right alpha asymmetry in the frontal region was specific only for the Fp(1)-Fp(2) region (frontopolar region). The only greater left frontal activation was registered between the F(7)-F(8) region. Our findings are supported by many other studies using specific localization methods like fMRI or LORETA source localization.

Association between pain, anxiety, and alpha2 frontal activity in women with fibromyalgia

“…Differences between the right and left hemispheres in alpha amplitude in the frontal region may be suggested as a possible biomarker of the anxiety disorders (Cheremushkin et al, 2018). Demerdzieva and Pop-Jordanova (2015) found a greater activation in the right frontal area of children with generalized anxiety disorder. In this respect, Adolph and Margraf (2016) found an expressive frontal alpha asymmetry in individuals with anxiety.…”

DASPS: A Database for Anxious States based on a Psychological Stimulation

“…2) Differential Asymmetry: Frontal asymmetry (the relative difference in power between two signals in different hemispheres) has been suggested as biomarker for anxiety [51]. In different studies, FA was calculated from the beta band (13-25 Hz) or the gamma band (> 30 Hz), but there are also studies using the alpha (8-12 Hz) frequency band.…”

“…In different studies, FA was calculated from the beta band (13-25 Hz) or the gamma band (> 30 Hz), but there are also studies using the alpha (8-12 Hz) frequency band. Due to the inverse relationship between alpha power and cortical activity, decreased alpha power reflects increased anxiety [51].…”

Individual differences in frontal alpha asymmetry moderate the relationship between acute stress responsivity and state and trait anxiety in adolescents

“…Neuronal oscillations in the alpha frequency band (8–13 Hz) inversely relate to cortical activity, indicating that the difference in frontal hemispheric alpha may reliably index asymmetric cortical activity ( Herrmann, Struber, Helfrich, & Engel, 2016 ). Frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) is associated with measures of motivational states, stress biomarkers, and mood and stress-related disorders ( Adolph & Margraf, 2017 ; Demerdzieva & Pop-Jordanova, 2015 ; Harrewijn, Van der Molen, & Westenberg, 2016a ; Harrewijn, Van der Molen, & Westenberg, 2016b ; Hewig et al 2008 ; Moran et al, 2017 ). Left FAA is defined as left greater than right frontal activation and vice versa for right FAA.…”