Aberrant EEG functional connectivity and EEG power spectra in resting state post-traumatic stress disorder: a sLORETA study

Claudio Imperatori; Benedetto Farina; Maria Isabella Quintiliani; Antonio Onofri; Paola Castelli Gattinara; Marta Lepore; Valentina Gnoni; Edoardo Mazzucchi; Anna Contardi; Giacomo Della Marca

doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2014.07.011

Aberrant EEG functional connectivity and EEG power spectra in resting state post-traumatic stress disorder: a sLORETA study

Biol Psychol. 2014 Oct:102:10-7. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2014.07.011. Epub 2014 Jul 18.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Italy. Electronic address: imperatori.c@libero.it.
² Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Italy; Unit for Treatment of Trauma, Centro Clinico De Sanctis, Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Human Sciences, European University of Rome, Italy.
⁴ Unit for Treatment of Trauma, Centro Clinico De Sanctis, Rome, Italy.
⁵ Institute of Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.

PMID: 25046862
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2014.07.011

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to explore the modifications of EEG power spectra and EEG connectivity of resting state (RS) condition in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Seventeen patients and seventeen healthy subjects matched for age and gender were enrolled. EEG was recorded during 5min of RS. EEG analysis was conducted by means of the standardized Low Resolution Electric Tomography software (sLORETA). In power spectra analysis PTSD patients showed a widespread increase of theta activity (4.5-7.5Hz) in parietal lobes (Brodmann Area, BA 7, 4, 5, 40) and in frontal lobes (BA 6). In the connectivity analysis PTSD patients also showed increase of alpha connectivity (8-12.5Hz) between the cortical areas explored by Pz-P4 electrode. Our results could reflect the alteration of memory systems and emotional processing consistently altered in PTSD patients.

Keywords: EEG Power Spectra; Functional connectivity; PTSD; sLORETA.

MeSH terms

Adult
Brain / physiopathology
Case-Control Studies
Electroencephalography
Female
Frontal Lobe / physiopathology*
Humans
Male
Memory
Middle Aged
Parietal Lobe / physiopathology*
Spectrum Analysis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / physiopathology*
Young Adult