EEG differences in children as a function of resting-state arousal level.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to explore the basis of a theoretical position which has major impact in the current literature on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) - that the ratio of theta to beta power in the EEG (the theta/beta ratio) represents central nervous system (CNS) arousal.


METHODS
Resting state topographic EEG activity was investigated as a function of CNS arousal in normal right-handed boys. Arousal was defined in terms of electrodermal activity, which has a long history in Psychology as a measure of CNS arousal.


RESULTS
Relative delta, theta, and beta power, and the theta/beta ratio, failed to differ significantly between age-matched groups which differed markedly in skin conductance level and non-specific electrodermal fluctuations. The high-arousal group showed significantly lower levels of relative alpha power, particularly in posterior and hemispheric regions, with higher alpha frequencies in these areas.


CONCLUSIONS
These data fail to support the theoretical linkage between the theta/beta ratio and CNS arousal. Further work is needed to disentangle the different correlates of arousal and task-related activation, particularly in cognitive and attentional-processing terms.


CONCLUSIONS
The outcomes of this study, in addition to clarifying the nature of EEG markers of CNS arousal, have important implications for our understanding of AD/HD, as they require re-evaluation of current models of the disorder.
Barry
Robert J
RJ
Brain & Behaviour Research Institute and Department of Psychology, University of Wollongong, 2522, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. robert_barry@uow.edu.au
Clarke
Adam R
AR
McCarthy
Rory
R
Selikowitz
Mark
M
Rushby
Jacqueline A
JA
Ploskova
Elizabeta
E
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004585:Electrooculography; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*