Neurophysiological signatures of sensory-processing sensitivity

Nicole Meinersen-Schmidt; Nike Walter; Patricia Kulla; Thomas Loew; Thilo Hinterberger; Joachim Kruse

doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1200962

Neurophysiological signatures of sensory-processing sensitivity

Front Neurosci. 2023 Jul 20:17:1200962. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1200962. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Nicole Meinersen-Schmidt¹, Nike Walter², Patricia Kulla¹, Thomas Loew², Thilo Hinterberger², Joachim Kruse¹

Affiliations

¹ Department for Clinical Psychology and Trauma Therapy, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Neubiberg, Germany.
² Section of Applied Consciousness Sciences, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.

Abstract

Background: Sensory processing sensitivity is mainly captured based on questionnaires and it's neurophysiological basis is largely unknown. As hitherto no electroencephalography (EEG) study has been carried out, the aim of this work was to determine whether the self-reported level of SPS correlates with the EEG activity in different frequency bands.

Methods: One hundred fifteen participants were measured with 64-channel EEG during a task-free resting state. After artifact correction, a power spectrum time series was calculated using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) for the following frequency bands: Delta: 1-3.5 Hz, theta: 4-7.5 Hz, alpha1: 8-10 Hz, alpha2: 10.5-12 Hz, beta1: 12.5-15 Hz, beta2: 15.5-25 Hz, gamma: 25.5-45 Hz, global: 1-45 Hz. Correlations with the 'Highly Sensitive Person Scale' (HSPS-G) scores were determined. Then, the lowest and the highest 30% of the cohort were contrasted as polar opposites. EEG features were compared between the two groups applying a paired two-tailed t-test.

Results: The HSPS-G scores correlated statistically significantly positive with beta 1 and 2, and global EEG power during resting with eyes open, but not during resting with eyes closed. The highly sensitive group revealed higher beta power (4.38 ± 0.32 vs. 4.21 ± 0.17, p = 0.014), higher gamma power (4.21 ± 0.37 vs. 4.00 ± 0.25, p = 0.010), and increased global EEG power (4.38 ± 0.29 vs. 4.25 ± 0.17, p = 0.041). The higher EEG activity in the HSP group was most pronounced in the central, parietal, and temporal region, whereas lower EEG activity was most present in occipital areas.

Conclusion: For the first time, neurophysiological signatures associated with SPS during a task free resting state were demonstrated. Evidence is provided that neural processes differ between HSP and non-HSP. During resting with eyes open HSP exhibit higher EEG activity suggesting increased information processing. The findings could be of importance for the development of biomarkers for clinical diagnostics and intervention efficacy evaluation.

Keywords: EEG; diagnostics; global activity; power spectral density; sensory-processing sensitivity.