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Subjective well-being (SWB) describes how well people experience and evaluate their current condition. Previous studies with electroencephalography (EEG) have shown that SWB can be related to frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA). While those studies only considered a single SWB score for each experimental session, our goal is to investigate such a correlation for individuals with a possibly different SWB every 60 or 30 s. Therefore, we conducted two experiments with 30 participants each. We used different temperature and humidity settings and asked the participants to periodically rate their SWB. We computed the FAA from EEG over different time intervals and associated the given SWB, leading to pairs of (FAA, SWB) values. After correcting the imbalance in the data with the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE), we performed a linear regression and found a positive linear correlation between FAA and SWB. We also studied the best time interval sizes for determining FAA around each SWB score. We found that using an interval of 10 s before recording the SWB score yields the best results.

EEG resting-state alpha asymmetry is one of the most widely investigated forms of functional hemispheric asymmetries in both basic and clinical neuroscience. However, studies yield inconsistent results. One crucial prerequisite to obtain reproducible results is the reliability of the index of interest. There is a body of research suggesting a moderate-to-good reliability of EEG resting-state alpha asymmetry, but unfortunately sample sizes in these studies are typically small. This study presents the first large-scale short-term reliability study of frontal and parietal EEG resting-state alpha asymmetry. We used the Dortmund Vital Study data set containing 370 participants. In each participant, EEG resting state was recorded eight times, twice with their eyes opened, twice with their eyes-closed, each on two different EEG systems. We found good reliability of EEG alpha power and alpha asymmetry on both systems for electrode pairs. We also found that alpha power asymmetry reliability is higher in the eyes-closed condition than in the eyes-open condition. The frontomedial electrode pair showed weaker reliability than the frontolateral and parietal electrode pairs. Interestingly, we found no population-level alpha asymmetry in frontal electrodes, one of the most investigated electrode sites in alpha asymmetry research. In conclusion, our results suggest that while EEG alpha asymmetry is an overall reliable measure, frontal alpha asymmetry should be assessed using multiple electrode pairs.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2025.1576642.].

Over the last decade, virtual reality (VR) has become an increasingly accessible commodity. Head-mounted display (HMD) immersive technologies allow researchers to simulate experimental scenarios that would be unfeasible or risky in real life. An example is extreme heights exposure simulations, which can be utilized in research on stress system mobilization. Until recently, electroencephalography (EEG)-related research was focused on mental stress prompted by social or mathematical challenges, with only a few studies employing HMD VR techniques to induce stress. In this study, we combine a state-of-the-art EEG wearable device and an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor with a VR headset to provoke stress in a high-altitude scenarios while monitoring EEG and ECG biomarkers in real time. A robust pipeline for signal clearing is implemented to preprocess the noise-infiltrated (due to movement) EEG data. Statistical and correlation analysis is employed to explore the relationship between these biomarkers with stress. The participant pool is divided into two groups based on their heart rate increase, where statistically important EEG biomarker differences emerged between them. Finally, the occipital-region band power changes and occipital asymmetry alterations were found to be associated with height-related stress and brain activation in beta and gamma bands, which correlates with the results of the self-reported Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire.

For decades, the frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) – a disproportion in EEG alpha oscillations power between right and left frontal channels – has been one of the most popular measures of depressive disorders (DD) in electrophysiology studies. Patients with DD often manifest a left-sided FAA: relatively higher alpha power in the left versus right frontal lobe. Recently, however, multiple studies failed to confirm this effect, questioning its reproducibility. Our purpose is to thoroughly test the validity of FAA in depression by conducting a multiverse analysis – running many related analyses and testing the sensitivity of the effect to changes in the analytical approach – on data from five independent studies. Only 13 of the 270 analyses revealed significant results. We conclude the paper by discussing theoretical assumptions underlying the FAA and suggest a list of guidelines for improving and expanding the EEG data analysis in future FAA studies.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha asymmetry has become a pivotal area of research for understanding functional hemispheric differences in neuroscience. To the best of our knowledge, the relationship between frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) and the depth of meditation has yet to be thoroughly examined. To address this gap, the present cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the meditative states of long-term meditators and non-meditators. This study examined 26 long-term heartfulness meditation practitioners (LTM) and 33 non-meditators (NM), aged 30 to 45 years. Frontal EEG activity was employed to assess frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA), while self-reported measures, including the Meditation Depth Questionnaire (MEDEQ) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), were used to evaluate the depth of meditation. The results demonstrated significant differences in self-reported meditation depth between the long-term meditators and non-meditators, as shown through MEDEQ and VAS assessments. Notably, the FAA findings exhibited distinct interaction effects that highlight variations between the two groups. Furthermore, a positive correlation was established between FAA and the depth of meditation, supporting the notion that EEG patterns are reflective of self-reported meditative experiences. The findings suggest that heartfulness meditation may modulate FAA patterns in practitioners, which could be linked to enhanced emotional balance.

Depression is a common mood disorder that can lead to suicide in severe cases. The aim of this study was to explore the characteristics of electrical activity in different brain regions in depressive patients with suicidal ideation (DSI), and to provide new insights into the neural mechanisms of suicidal ideation. 21 DSI, 18 depressive patients without suicidal ideation (DNSI), and 20 demographically matched healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. Differences in EEG power spectral density (PSD), frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA), and functional connectivity (FC) were computationally compared among the three groups to assess the differences in these EEG metrics between the different groups. EEG analysis showed a significant increase in alpha-band PSD and a significant decrease in FAA in DSI compared to DNSI ( < 0.05). Compared with HC, DSI exhibited a significant increase in alpha-band FC between frontal-central and parietal-central regions ( < 0.05). Furthermore, in DSI, alpha-band FC between frontal and central regions was significantly and positively correlated with both severity ( = 0.508, = 0.038) and intensity ( = 0.544, = 0.024) of suicidal ideation. This study found significant alterations in the EEG alpha band in DSI compared to DNSI and HC. alpha band alterations may be a potential biomarker of suicide risk in depression. These findings contribute to further understanding of the neural mechanisms of DSI.

Depressive disorders are one of the greatest public health challenges, affecting more than 300 million people worldwide. Traditional diagnostic methods are based on subjective clinical assessments, which limits their accuracy and reproducibility. Therefore, there is an urgent need to implement objective, easily accessible diagnostic tools. One such tool is quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), which allows for the analysis of the bioelectrical activity of the brain in a non-invasive and precise manner. In this narrative review, the latest research on the use of QEEG and traditional EEG in the assessment of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) was analyzed. The literature search was carried out in the PubMed and SpringerLink databases, focusing on articles investigating the correlations between spectral EEG properties (alpha, beta, theta, delta, gamma waves) and symptoms of depression. The literature review indicates the presence of characteristic patterns of brain activity in patients with MDD, such as alpha wave asymmetry in the frontal areas, increased beta band activity, and changes in the theta and delta waves. This indicates the potential use of these parameters as biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of therapy effectiveness. QEEG and classical EEG may play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of depression, supporting the development of personalized therapeutic strategies. Despite promising results, further research on the standardization of methods and validation of neurophysiological indicators is needed to enable their wider application in psychiatric clinical practice.

Slow-paced breathing (SB) reduces anxiety, but its effects on frontal alpha asymmetry (also termed relative left frontal activity, rLFA) and the persistence of these effects after aversive stimuli remain unclear. This study investigated whether SB reduces state anxiety and enhances rLFA, and whether these effects persist immediately after exposure to aversive images from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) following the breathing task. Seventeen healthy participants (7 females) completed sessions of SB (4 s inhalation, 6 s exhalation) and resting breathing (RB). Electroencephalography (EEG), heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory parameters, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) scores were measured at baseline (pre-task), post-task, and post-stimuli. HRV was evaluated by the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio (LF/HF ratio). Respiratory measurements included respiratory rate, coefficient of variation of respiratory intervals (CVRR), and end-tidal CO (ETCO ). rLFA, measured by alpha wave activity, was calculated at midfrontal (F4-F3) and lateral frontal (F8-F7) EEG sites. STAI-S scores in SB condition were significantly lower than in RB condition, both post-task (  < 0.001, Cohen's d = -1.46) and post-stimuli (  < 0.001, Cohen's d = -1.25). Midfrontal rLFA (F4-F3) also significantly increased with SB post-task (  < 0.01, Cohen's d = 1.03) and post-stimuli (  < 0.05, Cohen's d = 0.84), whereas lateral frontal rLFA (F8-F7) showed no significant changes. A significant interaction between intervention and time was observed for RMSSD (  < 0.01, η G = 0.18). Post-task RMSSD was significantly lower in SB condition compared to RB condition (  < 0.001), but this difference was absent post-stimuli. These findings suggest that SB effectively reduces state anxiety while enhancing rLFA, with these effects persisting after exposure to visual stressors. The anxiety-buffering effect of SB may be mediated by enhanced rLFA in the midfrontal region, reflecting improved prefrontal regulatory control over emotion. This indicates that SB could be a practical intervention to enhance neurophysiological resilience against acute stress.

Background/Aims: Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has enhanced cognition, positive emotion, and immunity in younger and middle-aged samples; its benefits are less well known for older persons. Here we report on a randomized controlled trial of MBSR for older adults and its effects on executive function, left frontal asymmetry of the EEG alpha band, and antibody response. Methods: Older adults (n = 201) were randomized to MBSR or waiting list control. The outcome measures were: the Trail Making Test part B/A (Trails B/A) ratio, a measure of executive function; changes in left frontal alpha asymmetry, an indicator of positive emotions or approach motivation; depression, mindfulness, and perceived stress scores, and the immunoglobulin G response to a protein antigen, a measure of adaptive immunity. Results: MBSR participants had a lower Trails B/A ratio immediately after intervention (p < 0.05); reduced shift to rightward frontal alpha activation after intervention (p = 0.03); higher baseline antibody levels after intervention (p < 0.01), but lower antibody responses 24 weeks after antigen challenge (p < 0.04), and improved mindfulness after intervention (p = 0.023) and at 21 weeks of follow-up (p = 0.006). Conclusions: MBSR produced small but significant changes in executive function, mindfulness, and sustained left frontal alpha asymmetry. The antibody findings at follow-up were unexpected. Further study of the effects of MBSR on immune function should assess changes in antibody responses in comparison to T-cell-mediated effector functions, which decline as a function of age.