| Abstract [eng] |
Recent EEG research suggests that aperiodic brain activity, previously considered to be mere noise, holds significant relevance and is closely associated with periodic activity. The limited knowledge regarding changes in aperiodic activity and fluctuations in alpha oscillations, the aim of this study was to assess the stability of periodic and aperiodic resting-state EEG parameters in the context of emotional arousal and female hormonal status. This quantitative study involved 144 women with varying hormonal statuses: those in the late follicular (NCF) and early luteal (NCL) phases of the natural menstrual cycle, users of oral contraceptives (OC), and users of hormonal intrauterine devices (IUD). Resting-state EEG data were recorded before and after an emotion regulation task. The data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis with Holm–Bonferroni correction. To evaluate emotional arousal and emotional state, measures of mood, anxiety, alexithymia, emotion regulation strategies, as well as emotional arousal and fatigue before and after the emotion regulation task, were analyzed. The results showed that the 1/f slope and individual alpha frequency remained stable across different hormonal groups and under varying emotional arousal conditions. Alpha power remained stable in all groups except for the IUD group, in which a significant change was observed between the experimental conditions. No associations were found between EEG parameters and personality traits (mood, anxiety, alexithymia, emotion regulation strategies). A weak positive correlation was identified between pre-task fatigue and the 1/f slope, as well as between the intensity of emotional arousal and the difference in alpha power before and after the emotion regulation task. Both periodic and aperiodic EEG parameters demonstrated stability in the context of emotional arousal and hormonal changes, suggesting their potential as reliable neurophysiological indicators in studies of emotional and hormonal effects on brain function. These findings also offer promising directions for future research. |
