Stress Stages and Changes on EEG by low-level Physical (EMF) and Chemical Stressors

Abstract

The psychosocial, physical and chemical factors, which affect the human organism on the workplace or in environmental, are considered by some authors [1, 2, 3] as stress factors which affect the functional state [FS]-vigilance level- of the central nervous system (CNS) and can cause the changes of this by developing of three stages of stress according to the stress theory H. Selye: hypersthenic, hyposthenic and organic psychosyndrome [4]. To characterise the low -level effects of chemical or physical factors on the vigilance level of CNS according to stress theory stages we have used the different psychological/ psychometrical tests and EEG analyzing methods. By using for the investigation of low-level impact of occupational chemical stressors on the vigilance level of CNS we have used the different methods as questionnaires, psychometric tests (827 workers) and analyzing of the EEG date (77 workers). As low-level physical factor we have used modulated electromagnetic radiation at different rhythms [14, 15, 16] and analyzed the changes on the EEG data of different groups of 77 volunteers. This data have showing the changes of the beta- and alpha-activities depending of the modulation frequencies and associated with data of the neuropsychological tasks [16]. This investigations have showing that for the analyzing of changes in EEG by impacting of modulated electromagnetic radiation at different rhythms is possible to use the stress theory stages for the understanding of impacting this low level physical factor on the vigilance level of CNS. In conclusion: to analyze the low level chemical and physical factors impacting on the vigilance level CNS by using the psychological/psychometrical and electrophysiological (EEG) data we found the acceptable to use the stress theory and developing of the stress stages H. Selye to characterizes the development of CNS vigilance level changes.