The EEG and reaction to photic stimulation as an index of anxiety-proneness

Abstract

One hundred and ninety one subjects (patients and controls) were utilized in an attempt to develop an EEG measure for selecting anxiety-prone individuals. All were carefully studied by psychological tests and psychiatric interviews and rated for their proneness to develop anxiety under stress. EEGs were taken under resting conditions and during intermittent photic stimulation. An electronic brain wave analyser was used. There was a significant correlation between the criteria of anxiety-proneness and the following: 1. 1. Per cent of fast, slow and low alpha activity in the electronically analysed resting EEG. 2. 2. Pattern of fundamental driving response. 3. 3. Amount of harmonic driving response, particularly in the 20–30 c/sec. range to stimulation with flicker frequencies 1 2 or 1 4 this rate. 4. 4. Amount of subjective dysphoria produced by intermittent photic stimulation. A check list of EEG anxiety indicators derived from the above correlated 0.51 with the validating criterion of anxiety-proneness.