Quantitative EEG & Related Research
Review Papers
The Role of Quantitative Electroencephalography in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders (abs.)
This article presents a critical review of quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) research and issues relevant to its clinical application. Included is a summary of methodologic issues necessary for a reliable implementation of qEEG within clinical settings and a brief discussion of controversial issues surrounding this implementation.
Research Papers
Independent Biofeedback Self-Regulation of EEG Alpha and Skin Resistance
Skin resistance and EEG alpha were recorded concurrently during alpha biofeedback, in which the participant attempted to control alpha, and during skin resistance biofeedback, in which the participant attempted to control skin resistance.
Topographical Brain Mapping in Depression Following Mild Closed Head Injury: A Case Study
In recent years, electroencephelagraphic and neuroimaging techniques have become increasingly popular among researchers for the investigation of the relationship between specific hemispheric asymmetries and clinical depression. These techniques may prove useful tools when used in conjunction with more common neuropsychological tests.
Quantitative EEG Findings Among Men Convicted of Murder
Quantitative EEG data were collected from 20 men convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Measures of coherence, phase, amplitude asymmetry, and relative power from 19 scalp electrode sites during an eyes closed, resting condition were compared to a normative database. Measures significantly different from normal were tallied to determine electrode site locations with greatest concentrations of abnormalities.
Gates, States, Rhythms, and Resonances: The Scientific Basis of Neurofeedback Training
This paper presents a set of electrophysiological and neurophysiological processes as bases for the efficacy of neurofeedback training (NT) for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and schizophrenia. It then suggests neurophysiological commonalities between these disorders to explain the observed efficacy of NT for depression and OCD, and to suggest the possibility of adapting it to treat schizophrenia.
EEG Maturation
Evidence from numerous investigations, including twin and familiy studies, has suggested that the inter-individual differences of human brain wave patterns (EEG) are predominantly determined by genetic factors [cf. Young et al. 1972; Propping et al. 1980; Stassen 1980; Lykken et al. 1982; Stassen 1985; Vogel 1986; Baier and Dose 1987; Christian et al. 1988; Stassen et al. 1988; Linkowski et al. 1989; Fujiwara et al. 1990; Meshkova 1992; Beijsterveldt and Boomsma 1994).
Study of a 12 Sib Family
Human brain wave patterns (EEG) are complex traits as is illustrated by the fact that the mode of inheritance is not a simple mendelian one for the great majority of parameters used to quantify EEG characteristics. One exception may be the low-voltage EEG that is characterized by the absence of an alpha rhythm in the resting EEG and is hypothesized to be an autosomal-dominant trait [Vogel 1986; Anokhin et al. 1992; Steinlein et al. 1992a, b].
Familial EEG Traits
Human brain wave patterns (EEG) represent complex traits as is illustrated by the fact that the inheritance does not follow simple mendelian modes in the great majority of parameters used to quantify EEG characteristics. The only exception might be the low-voltage EEG that is characterized by the absence of an alpha rhythm in the resting EEG and that is hypothesized to be an autosomal-dominant trait (Vogel 1986; Anokhin et al. 1992; Steinlein et al. 1992a, b).
EEG Maturation in Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins. A Longitudinal Study of 200 Twin Pairs
In a large twin-family study comprising EEG recordings of 919 subjects, we applied methods of quantitative genetics to explore the trait-like qualities of EEG parameters, and to quantify the proportions of phentotypic variance that can be attributed to genetic and environmental influences. Our study confirmed previous findings regarding the existence of strong heritable factors that contribute a major proportion to the inter- individual variance in human brain wave patterns.
To What Extent Do Brain-Morphologic Asymmetries Explain EEG Left-Right Differences
Recent MRI studies comparing schizophrenic patients with healthy controls have provided evidence of brain-morphologic changes in the patients with schizophrenia. However, quantitative data derived from these studies indicated that the differences between patients and controls are generally slight and that there is a substantial normal variation in any of the morphometric measures.
Identical Twins: One has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Can QEEG Discriminate?
This is a report on a continuing blinded study of identical twins, one of which has been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Various measures of the QEEG, such as peak alpha frequency, A3/A1 (high/ low) alpha ratio, SMR/theta, ratio of EC/EO alpha, etc. have been applied to the data. The QEEG has also been compared with the Lifespan Database.
Surround Modulation Measured With Functional MRI in the Human Visual Cortex
Surround Modulation Measured With Functional MRI in the Human Visual Cortex. J. Neurophysiol. 89: 525-533, 2003. Visual context profoundly influences 1) the responses of mammalian visual neurons and 2) the perceptual sensitivity of human observers to localized visual stimuli.
The Benefits of Measuring Basal Skin Response During Neurofeedback Training (abs. pg.21)
Basal skin response (BSR) is the measure of skin conductance, as measured on the palmar surfaces of two fingers. As the eccrine gland system mobilizes in response to sympathetic arousal, the glands sweat. This can be a window to the body's acceptance to new brain wave states.
Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Adult Brain Plasticity as Measured by Quantitative Electroencephalogram (abs. pg.3)
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a problem of epidemic proportions that has been implicated by recent research to change brain structure and function in children (Ito, Teicher, Glod, & Ackerman, 1998).
Posterior Cingulate Cortex Activation by Emotional Words: fMRI Evidence from a Valence Decision Task
Functional imaging studies consistently find that emotional stimuli activate the posterior cingulate cortex, a region that appears to have memory-related functions. However, prior imaging studies have not controlled for non-emotional stimulus features that might activate this region by engaging memory processes unrelated to emotion.
Quantitative EEG Abnormalities in a Sample of Dyslexic Persons
Definitions of terms such as dyslexia and specific reading disability commonly recognize a basis in central nervous system dysfunction. Past research has related this dysfunction to both structural and neural timing abnormalities. The present study used QEEG findings to provide further evidence for neural timing/coherence abnormalities in reading disabled persons.
EEG Power-Spectral and Coherence Differences Between Attentional States during a Complex Auditory Task
This electroencephalographic (EEG) study was designed to explore the differences in power spectra and coherence associated with subjective levels of engrossment, or absorption, in an auditory task.
The Effects of Visual Feedback on Hemispheric Alpha Asymmetries and Reported Processing Strategies: A Single-Subject Experimental Design (abs.)
A double reversal single-subject experimental design was used to study the effects of visual feedback on the hemispheric alpha asymmetries of a male subject during a linguistic task.
Biofeedback-Produced Hemispheric Asymmetry of Slow Cortical Potentials and Its Behavioural Effects (abs.)
Two studies served to examine behavioural effects of slow cortical potentials (SPs). SPs were manipulated by means of a biofeedback procedure.
Preliminary Evidence That Daily Changes in Frontal Alpha Asymmetry Correlate with Changes in Affect in Therapy Sessions (abs.)
Frontal EEG alpha asymmetry was recorded from five depressed outpatients during early EEG biofeedback sessions. Mood was assessed prior to and after each session, and affect change scores were also derived by subtracting pre-session from post-session scores.
Operant (biofeedback) Control of Left-Right frontal Alpha Power Differences: Potential Neurotherapy for Affective Disorders
Two experiments were done with subjects from a paid pool of undergraduates. In each study, there were five 1-hour sessions on each of 5 days.
The Temporal Dynamics of Electroencephalographic Responses to Alpha/Theta Neurofeedback Training in Healthy Subjects (abs. pg.1)
It has been shown recently that accurate feedback of alpha and theta electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, as employed in the commonly used “alpha/theta protocol,” induced linear increments in within-session theta-over-alpha ratios in comparison to non-contingent feedback in a healthy sample.
