Cortical Asymmetry and Modulation of Frontal Beta Brain Activity by Perceived Stress

This study explores the connection between perceived stress, frontal cortical asymmetry, and brain activity in Low and High Beta frequency bands under eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions. Utilizing EEG, the research assessed perceived stress through the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results indicated a moderate to strong positive correlation (r = 0.66) between frontal asymmetry and perceived stress with eyes open. Conversely, the eyes-closed condition showed weak and non-significant correlations for Low Beta and a weak correlation for frontal asymmetry. In the eyes-open state, a significant positive correlation existed between perceived stress and Low Beta activity, particularly in the right hemisphere (FP2: r = 0.73, p < 0.01; FP1: r = 0.66, p < 0.05). High Beta activity also presented a positive trend, with a moderate correlation in the right hemisphere (r = 0.42) and weak in the left (r = 0.19). Beta power was generally higher when eyes were closed. These findings suggest that visual state crucially modulates the relationship among frontal Beta activity, cortical asymmetry, and stress, making eyes-open conditions a more reliable stress indicator. The study underscores the importance of visual state in EEG stress data interpretation and offers insights for developing neurophysiological stress biomarkers and neurofeedback interventions.