Individual Alpha Frequency (IAF) Based Quantitative EEG Correlates of Psychological Stress.

OBJECTIVES To explore the EEG changes associated with psychological stress state. METHODS The study was conducted on 34 healthy male student volunteers. The intervention consisted of psychological stress, which was induced by asking the participants to play a pre-decided stressful computer game. Physiological markers of psychological stress were assessed using galvanic skin response (GSR) and heart rate (HR). Electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded from 19 scalp locations according to 10-20 international system of electrode placement. RESULTS Computer game served as model of lab stressor and was associated with a significant increase in physiological markers (GSR & heart rate) of stress response. Psychological stress was associated with increased absolute power in theta, lower 1 alpha and gamma bands & decreased power in upper alpha and beta bands. Lower 2 alpha band power remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS Certain types of computer games serve as a model of lab stressor and are associated with physiological and psychological stress and have unique electroencephalographic correlates. The EEG correlates of mental stress are unique superimposed pattern of various cognitive domains. With sustained and continuing stress resulting from computer game attention, alertness and performance starts declining.