Quantitative measures of the EEG and their implications as a diagnostic adjunct for depression
Abstract
Recent EEG studies utilizing alpha band power density asymmetry to investigate differences between groups of pathological and normal individuals suggest that asymmetry may serve as a good discriminator between these two groups. Similar to previous studies, the present research attempted to investigate differences between depressed and normal using the alpha spectrum. Unlike previous studies, this research investigated differences between groups through examination within the alpha band rather than using the entire alpha band, while using very strict experimental controls. This analysis was conducted hoping to find differences between the two groups embedded inside the alpha spectrum that would otherwise be missed in an effort to increase the level of discrimination from that obtained with measures that examine the alpha band in its entirety or with presently existing physiological assessment measures. Previous results, using overall alpha band measures, were not replicated in this study. The results from this research revealed that the finer, within alpha, examination is capable of discriminating individuals in the depressed group better than existing measures but lacks the specificity necessary to serve as a diagnostic measure.
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- OSU Dissertations [11222]