Re-exploring the relationship between skull thickness and alpha asymmetry: A CT/MR imaging correlation study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Imaging
• Electroencephalography

Background:

• Alpha rhythm asymmetry is a known phenomenon with proposed causes like skull thickness variations.
• Understanding the relationship between alpha asymmetry and skull thickness is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between alpha amplitude asymmetry and skull thickness.
• To determine if skull thickness differences contribute to observed alpha asymmetry.

Main Methods:

• Analyzed electroencephalograms (EEGs) for alpha rhythm amplitude using O1 and O2 channels.
• Measured skull thickness via CT/MRI scans at corresponding locations.
• Utilized Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman correlation, and median regression for analysis.

Main Results:

• A significant association (p<0.001) was found between alpha asymmetry groups and skull thickness differences.
• Spearman correlation (Rs = -0.25, p<0.001) indicated a significant negative correlation.
• Median regression confirmed statistically significant variations in skull thickness among asymmetry groups after adjustments.

Conclusions:

• This large-scale study demonstrates a significant relationship between alpha amplitude asymmetry and skull thickness.
• The findings provide novel insights into the factors influencing brain electrical activity patterns.