title: Dissociation, resting EEG, and subjective sleep experiences in undergraduates.
abstract: In this study, we explored whether individual differences in dissociation are related to certain resting electroencephalographic (EEG) parameters. Baseline EEG with eyes open and closed was recorded in an undergraduate sample (N = 67). Cortical power in the alpha range was inversely related to dissociative symptoms as measured by the Dissociative Experiences Scale, while both delta and theta power where positively related to dissociation. However, sleep experiences, as indexed with the Iowa Sleep Experiences Survey, were unrelated to resting EEG characteristics. We propose that suppression in the alpha band and raised levels of theta activity, which are typical for high dissociators, might help to explain why dissociative symptoms are accompanied by attentional and memory deficits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giesbrecht
authors.forename: Ellen M M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Jongen
authors.forename: Fren T Y
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Smulders
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Merckelbach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001288:Attention; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012146:Rest; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000706:statistics & numerical data