[The association between autonomic response status and the changes in EEG activity during mental arithmetic task]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Autonomic Nervous System Research
• Psychophysiology

Context:

• Mental arithmetic (MA) tasks are known to increase sympathetic activity, leading to elevated blood pressure and heart rate.
• Individual variability exists in autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses during cognitive tasks like MA.
• Understanding these individual differences is crucial for comprehending stress responses and cognitive load.

Purpose:

• To quantitatively analyze electroencephalogram (EEG) changes and heart rate variability (HRV) during MA tasks.
• To investigate the relationship between EEG alterations and autonomic nervous system activity.
• To differentiate between stress responders and non-responders based on physiological markers.

Summary:

• Thirty-eight healthy young volunteers performed MA tasks while their EEG and HRV were monitored.
• Participants were categorized into stress responders (increased LF/HF and blood pressure) and non-responders.
• Stress responders exhibited increased slow beta EEG power, while non-responders showed a decrease, indicating distinct neural responses.
• A positive correlation was found between changes in slow alpha power and the LF/HF ratio, suggesting a link between brain activity and sympathetic modulation.

Impact:

• This study highlights the heterogeneity of autonomic and neural responses to cognitive stress.
• Findings suggest that EEG power changes, particularly in slow alpha and beta bands, can serve as biomarkers for stress response during mental arithmetic.
• The research provides a foundation for further investigation into personalized stress management strategies and cognitive load assessment.