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Electroencephalographic Correlates of Mental Performance of Emotional Autobiographic and Scenic Situations: II. Characteristics of Spatial Synchronization

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Abstract

The EEG spatial synchronization in the frequency bands Δ, θ, α1, α2, β1, and β2 was studied on the basis of estimations of corresponding mean values of the coherence function in two groups of subjects (students actors and nonactors) during internal induction of emotional states by means of recall of autobiographic experience and mental performance of given scenic situations as a known character. Emotion-induced changes in the state of the cortex were reflected in statistically significant heterogeneous changes in the EEG spatial synchronization in many cortical areas and different frequency bands. The results obtained are discussed in combination with data presented earlier on changes in EEG local synchronization obtained in the course of the same experiments. The EEG β bands stand out against the background of extensive changes in the local and spatial EEG synchronization: the EEG changes in these bands are most prominent. Also, the changes in the prefrontal and temporal cortical areas, most involved in actualization of emotional states, are noteworthy. Some of the findings can be interpreted as confirming the hypothesis about neurophysiological mechanisms of brain defense from functionally excessive emotions.

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Danko, S.G., Bechtereva, N.P., Shemyakina, N.V. et al. Electroencephalographic Correlates of Mental Performance of Emotional Autobiographic and Scenic Situations: II. Characteristics of Spatial Synchronization. Human Physiology 29, 685–693 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HUMP.0000008839.44532.62

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HUMP.0000008839.44532.62

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