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. 2015 Sep 16:7:177.
doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00177. eCollection 2015.

Regional electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha power and asymmetry in older adults: a study of short-term test-retest reliability

Karen J Mathewson  1 , Ali Hashemi  1 , Bruce Sheng  1 , Allison B Sekuler  1 , Patrick J Bennett  1 , Louis A Schmidt  1
Affiliations

Regional electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha power and asymmetry in older adults: a study of short-term test-retest reliability

Karen J Mathewson et al. Front Aging Neurosci. .

Abstract

Although regional alpha power and asymmetry measures have been widely used as indices of individual differences in emotional processing and affective style in younger populations, there have been relatively few studies that have examined these measures in older adults. Here, we examined the short-term test-retest reliability of resting regional alpha power (7.5-12.5 Hz) and asymmetry in a sample of 38 active, community-dwelling older adults (M age = 71.2, SD = 6.5 years). Resting electroencephalogram recordings were made before and after a perceptual computer task. Pearson and intra-class correlations indicated acceptable test-retest reliability for alpha power and asymmetry measures in all regions. Interestingly, alpha asymmetry appeared to be less affected by the task than was alpha power. Findings suggest that alpha asymmetry may reflect more enduring, "trait-like" characteristics, while alpha power may reflect more "state-like" processes in older adults.

Keywords: aging; alpha power; electroencephalogram (EEG); frontal asymmetry; psychophysiology; test–retest reliability.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Scatterplots of the associations between mid-frontal asymmetry in the eyes-closed, pre-task (T1), and post-task (T2) conditions.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Scatterplots of the associations between lateral-frontal asymmetry in the eyes-closed, pre-task (T1), and post-task (T2) conditions.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Eyes-closed EEG power in the left hemisphere, by frequency, region, and condition (T1 vs. T2).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Eyes-closed EEG power in the right hemisphere, by frequency, region, and condition (T1 vs. T2).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Eyes-open EEG power in the left hemisphere by frequency, region, and condition (T1 vs. T2).
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Eyes-open EEG power in the right hemisphere by frequency, region, and condition (T1 vs. T2).
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Overall EEG alpha power in the eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions was greater at T2 than T1, and greater in the frontal right hemisphere than the left.
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
Overall post-task increases in alpha power in the eyes-closed and eyes-open conditions were greater in women than men.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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