Gender differences in quantitative EEG at rest and during photic stimulation in normal young adults

In the present study quantitative EEG analysis was performed in 20 male and 20 female healthy adults in order to examine the gender differences in EEG activity at rest and during photic stimulation. The females generally showed a higher amplitude in the resting EEG than the males, with significant differences observed for the delta, theta, alpha 2 and beta bands at the limited electrode sites. The gender differences were more pronounced in EEG activity during photic stimulation, and the females had a higher EEG amplitude in the frequency band identical or harmonically related to the stimulus frequency. These findings provide further evidence that the gender differences exist in EEG activity in both stimulus and nonstimulus conditions.