316 Abstracts / International Journal of Psychophysiology 77 (2010) 288–342
of the present study was to search for resting brain activity correlates
of fatigue using electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis.
Methods: Sixteen patients with MS participated in the study [age
21–46 (mean 33); women = 10]. They underwent Fatigue Severity
Scale (FSS) testing [scores between 9 and 57 (mean 31)] and five
minutes of resting, eye-closed 29-channel EEG. For analysis of EEG
data, the low resolution electromagnetic tomography (e/sLORETA)
method was applied, allowing 3-dimensional representations of
current source density (CSD) in different regions of interest. The
absolute power was analysed for the following bands: Delta (1–3 Hz),
Theta (4–7 Hz), Alpha1 (8–9 Hz), Alpha2 (10–12 Hz), Beta1 (13–
18 Hz), Beta2 (19–21 Hz) and Beta3 (22–30 Hz). CSD in different
regions for each band was measured and used for correlation analysis
(Spearman's correlation test) with FSS.
Results: A negative correlation between CSD in cingulate cortex
(BA 23, 30, 31) and FSS was found in the next bands: BA23-delta,
theta, beta3; BA31-delta, theta, alpha, beta3; BA30-in all frequency
bands. The correlation was most prominent in BA 30 including all
bands (−0.757 < rs < −0.521; 0.001 < p < 0.038).
Conclusions: On the basis of obtained results, a central mechanism
of fatigue in MS could be hypothesized. These preliminary data
suggest that LORETA might be useful as an objective method for
assessment of fatigue in MS subjects.
doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2010.06.228
The EEG markers of the human otic and motor coordination at
short intervals
Alevtyna Morenko, Olga Pawlovich
Lesya Ukrainka of Volyn National University, Department of Human and
Animals Physiology, Lutsk, Ukraine
This research is dedicated to the detection of peculiarities
concerning the time course of cortical arousal processes during the
otic and motor coordination carried out at short intervals—up to
500 ms, at 500 ms and from 500 ms. Taking into consideration the
requirements of biomedical ethics, 30 healthy right-handers (15 men
and 15 women), age 17–21 became the testees of the experiment. The
registration of the EEG (‘Neirokom’, Kharkiv) was carried out
exclusively by means of the standard joint ear electrode. The active
electrodes were placed in accordance with the international system
10/20. The test was performed in an isolated room with test persons
in a calm state (background) during the fulfillment of the otic and
motor coordination during the inter-stimulant intervals both in
periods, namely, 250 ms, 500 ms or 1000 ms and in the mode of the
stable rhythmic activity. Sounds (the electronic version of the drum
beats, Finale 2006) with a duration of 10 ms, sound intensity of 55–
60 dB and a frequency—110 Hz, were used as stimuli. Testees
executed the reciprocal coordination in response to the stimuli,
particularly, they alternately clenched and unclenched fingers of the
right response hand. Testees were with closed eyes in the period of
testing. The power spectrum density of the EEG rhythms was
detected as 4–7, 9 Hz (θ rhythm), 8–12, 9 Hz (α rhythm) and 13–
34, 9 Hz (β rhythm). The function of the power spectrum density is to
set the division of the signal power according to the frequency
intervals and evaluate the major peculiarities of the fixed random
processes. The difference (p ≤ 0.05) was determined by means of the
Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney's criterion.
The otic and motor coordination at intervals in 500 ms is
characterized by lower indices of the power spectrum density of
the θ, α and β rhythms of the EEG both in the female and male
central, back temporal, vertex and napex lobes of the cerebral cortex
in comparison with the background. The EEG desynchronization in
these frequency ranges is the description of the cortical activity in the
process of the sensory and motor operation. Recruiting responses of
the central, vertex and napex lobes point at the partial use of
strategies dealing with the automatism from the side of testees.
Simultaneously, the growth of indices in the female right anterior
frontal, back temporal and napex lobes, in comparison with the
decrease of these indices in the left cerebral hemisphere, were
registered in the band of the β activity. Changes in the right cerebral
hemisphere may affirm the strengthening of processes dealing with
the autonomic sensory and motor operations in the cerebral cortex.
The duration increase of intervals among periods of coordination
(from 500 ms till 1000 ms) with deepening of the depression in the θ,
α and β rhythms of the EEG with the concentration in the left
cerebral hemisphere of anterior frontal lobes which correlate with
the strengthening of the activation processes in conditions of the
cognitive factor (attention and operative memory) intensification.
One more criteria is the growth of power spectrum density of the β
rhythm whose synchronization deals with the actualization of the
mental process.
The decrease of intervals among periods of the coordination from
500 ms till 250 ms in both sex groups is followed by the significant
growth of the power spectrum density of the EEG θ, α and β rhythms
in the cerebral cortex, chiefly, in the right cerebral hemisphere. It is
caused by the lowering of the cortical control, attention deficit and
strengthening of the autonomic rapid and parallel sensory and motor
operation.
Meaningful dynamic changes in the alpha band have the major local
and asymmetrical peculiar features concentrated in the left cerebral
hemisphere in men and are similarly generalized in women. Women
differ from men by the higher capacity to the responsiveness of changes
(the higher significance of differences) in the β rhythm range while it is
more manifested in men in the θ activity range in the case of the transfer
to the otic and motor activities carried out at short intervals.
doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2010.06.229
Peculiarities of frequency-spatial organization of brain cortical
bio-potentials in creative individuals performing divergent and
convergent tasks
L.A. Dikaya, P.N. Ermakov
Southern Federal University, Psychology Faculty, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
As a specific individual ability, creativity is known to consist of
cognitive and motivational components. Divergent thinking is the
cognitive component of creativity. Therefore, comparing features of
brain cortical bio-potentials in subjects over the course of solving
divergent and convergent tasks allows us to identify brain mechan-
isms specific for creative thinking.
The objective of our research is to study features of the frequency–
spatial organization of cortical bio-potentials depending on the
subjects' creativity level as well as on the character (verbal and
nonverbal) and complexity level (easy and difficult) of solving
divergent and convergent tasks.
The subjects were 58 high-schoolers and university students, age
16–22. They were asked to perform convergent and divergent tasks.
In compliance with the results of the psychological tests, they were
divided into two groups—with a low (31 participants) and high (27
participants) level of creativity. EEG signals were recorded at a resting
state (with eyes closed, with eyes open) and during problem solving
from 21 scalp electrodes according to the International 10–20 System.
All the tasks to be solved by the participants were divided in
accordance with the type (convergent and divergent), the character
(verbal and nonverbal) and the complexity level (easy and difficult).
 Abstracts / International Journal of Psychophysiology 77 (2010) 288–342
We asked the subjects to indicate their responses by pressing the
button “idea” in order to differentiate thinking process into two
stages—a problem-solving stage (before pressing the button “idea”)
and a check stage (after pressing the button “idea”).
We analyzed EEG power for each subject for the following
frequency bands: delta (0.50–3.75 Hz), theta (4.00–7.75 Hz), alpha-
1 (8.00–9.75 Hz), alpha-2 (10.00–12.75 Hz), beta-1 (13.00–23.75 Hz),
and beta-2 (24.00–35.00 Hz).
For statistical analysis we used 4-way ANOVA (Task × Thinking
Stage × Band × Brain Cortex Region) and post hoc analysis to compare
the features of the frequency–spatial organization of cortical bio-
potentials in low-level creative and high-level creative participants.
Results: The distinguishing characteristics of temporal and spatial
EEG-patterns in high creative individuals compared to low creative
ones have been revealed (p < 0, 05) as follows:
1. Significantly lower level of the brain cortical activation at a
resting state and while performing any cognitive tasks (at alpha-1
band) and higher level of beta-1 EEG power while solving and
checking easy divergent problems.
2. Significantly higher level of theta power in frontal and central
brain cortical regions when solving easy cognitive tasks, independent
of its type and character that testifies to the fact of high emotional
inclusiveness in the task and actualization of past experience in
creative subjects.
3. High cortical activation in the right temporal area at alpha-1
frequency band in solving difficult divergent nonverbal problems.
4. Activation decrease of the left frontal cortical area in high
creative subjects when solving difficult divergent problems provides
the situation of defocused attention process and generalization of
cognitive processes of search and combinations of signs, and
emotional regulation of creative thinking as well.
Conclusion: the dynamics model of the functional brain system
during the creative process includes 3 levels: 1) Modulation level,
2) Specific cognitive level, and 3) Specific level for high creative
individuals.
doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2010.06.230
Oz alpha comparison between executed and rejected shots in
pistol shooting
Chien Liua, Wei-Ju Lina,b, Tsung-Min Hunga
a
National Taiwan Normal University, Department of Physical Education,
Taipei, Taiwan
b a
Taiwan Hospitality and Tourism College, Department of Leisure
Management, Hualien, Taiwan
Previous studies have shown that electroencephalographic (EEG)
recording changes during the pre-shot period for elite shooters have
been investigated. Occipital cortex is related to visual function. While
aiming at the target, there is an increasing EEG alpha power in the
occipital cortex. Visual attention to the environment will be replaced
by inattention. Alpha power was found to increase during the pre-
shot epochs in best shots, and decrease in worst shots. In this study,
the purpose was to better understand the attentive process related in
the pre-shot period through different trial types. Twenty-four elite
pistol shooters were recruited to perform thirty shots. From these 24
subjects, six shooters whose rejection trail was over and above six
shots were selected. EEG alpha (8–12 Hz) spectral power was
assessed at the Oz electrode site to compare between the executed
and rejected shots. EEG data were epoched consecutively for three
seconds prior to the execution or rejection. Statistics using 2 × 3 (trial
type × epoch) ANOVAs with repeated measures were employed. The
results for executed shots, when compared with rejected shots and
317
the pre-shot period, revealed no significant effect in Oz alpha, and
there were no interactions between trial types and epochs.
doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2010.06.231
Pre-shot EEG alpha-power during archery shooting
I-Ting Chen, Tsung-Ming Hung
National Taiwan Normal University, Department of Physical Education,
Taipei City, Taiwan
The purpose of this study was to compare the EEG activity in pre-
elite archers from their best and worst individual performances. We
hypothesized that the best performance would accompany increased
α1 and α2 power at Oz, T3 electrodes. Ten pre-elite archers
(M = 19.79, SD = 1.08) were requested to perform 36 shots each,
after which the best and worst 10 shots for each participant were
selected for analysis, with EEG alpha activity between the best and
worst scores being recorded two seconds prior to shot release. In this
study, EEG was assessed at two bands (α1, 8–10 and α2, 10–12),
using sites T3 and Oz. EEG data were epoched every 0.5 consecutive
seconds for 2 seconds prior to the shot release and two 2 × 4 × 2
(performance × epoch × electrode) ANOVAs with repeated measures
were employed. The results showed that the best shooting average
scores were 9.48, and the worst 7.16, a significant difference. EEG α1
of T3 and OZ were not significantly different prior to shot release, and
two-way ANOVA and main effect were also not significantly different.
EEG α2 of T3 and OZ were not significantly different prior to shot
release, and two-way ANOVA and main effect were also not
significantly different. The purpose for this study was to examine
the difference of cortical activity between the best and worst
performance. However, the results are not consistent with the
hypothesis that α1 and α2 of T3 and OZ can differentiate between
the best and worst performance. The possible reasons that may
explain this insignificant result are discussed.
doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2010.06.232
The effect of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on frontal
α-asymmetry in recurrently depressed patients
Philipp M. Keunea, Vladimir Bostanovb, Boris Kotchoubeyb,
Martin Hautzingera
Institute of Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology and
Psychotherapy, Germany
b
Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology,
Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a highly economic
form of maintenance psychotherapy and reduces the risk for relapse
in patients suffering from recurrent major depressive disorder. Even
though several studies have shown the effectiveness of MBCT for the
prevention of relapse, knowledge about the underlying mechanisms
is limited. In this study, we explored the psychophysiological
mechanisms underlying the protective function of MBCT, by examin-
ing its effects on functional anterior brain asymmetry (FAA), assessed
through the α-band (8–13 Hz) in resting electroencephalogram
(EEG). FAA has been identified as an indicator of global affective
style and abnormal FAA may predispose an individual to develop
major depression. Several resting EEG assessments (8 min, eyes open
and closed) were obtained prior to and after the participation in an
MBCT course from recurrently depressed patients in remission.
Patients were randomly distributed between two groups, one of