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EEG studies of two multiple personalities and a control
Archives of General Psychiatry
|July 1, 1982
Summary
Electroencephalogram (EEG) studies reveal minimal brain differences between multiple personalities. Instead, observed EEG variations in individuals with multiple personalities relate to concentration, mood, and muscle tension, not inherent brain distinctions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
Background:
- Limited research exists on electroencephalogram (EEG) findings in individuals with multiple personality disorder (MPD).
- Understanding neurological correlates of MPD is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Observation:
- The study analyzed EEG data from two patients diagnosed with MPD and one control subject.
- Both visual inspection and frequency analysis of EEGs were performed.
- Auditory and visual evoked responses were recorded for one patient and the control.
Findings:
- Visual EEG scans and evoked responses showed minimal differences between the various personalities within each MPD patient.
- Frequency analysis revealed more significant EEG differences among the "personalities" of the control subject than in the MPD patients.
- EEG variations in MPD appear linked to factors like concentration intensity, mood shifts, muscle tension, and recording duration.
Implications:
- Findings suggest that observed EEG differences in MPD are not indicative of fundamental brain distinctions between individuals with MPD and neurotypical individuals.
- EEG variations may reflect state-dependent changes related to cognitive and physiological factors rather than distinct neurological states.
- Further research is needed to explore the relationship between EEG, cognitive processes, and symptom presentation in MPD.