Brain Waves as Predictors of Negative Life Events in College Students
Disciplines
Cognition and Perception | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences | Somatic Psychology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
The purpose of this study was to examine whether physiological responses to relevant stimuli could predict the occurrence of certain life events. A sample of 45 participants was used, 5 of which were recruited from the Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery, and 40 of which were recruited from KSU undergraduate psychology classes. Participant's brain activity was measured with the use of an electroencephalography (EEG) while they underwent an oddball task requiring them to react to one of three distinct types of shapes on a computer. The Life Events Checklist (LEC) was used to determine the frequency of negative life events out of 17 possible categories of events. The EEG measures and LEC totals were used in a backward regression with 20 different physiological measures to determine a relationship with the frequency of these life events occurring. These physiological measures indicated the P3 evoked response potential from an oddball paradigm. Results of the backward regression indicate that the mean of P3 amplitudes at electrode Cz predicted the frequency of negative life events, with greater amplitude P3 responses associated with fewer negative events. To our knowledge, this is the first reported association of negative life event frequency with the P3-evoked response potential.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - Psychological Science
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Tim Martin
Brain Waves as Predictors of Negative Life Events in College Students
The purpose of this study was to examine whether physiological responses to relevant stimuli could predict the occurrence of certain life events. A sample of 45 participants was used, 5 of which were recruited from the Center for Young Adult Addiction and Recovery, and 40 of which were recruited from KSU undergraduate psychology classes. Participant's brain activity was measured with the use of an electroencephalography (EEG) while they underwent an oddball task requiring them to react to one of three distinct types of shapes on a computer. The Life Events Checklist (LEC) was used to determine the frequency of negative life events out of 17 possible categories of events. The EEG measures and LEC totals were used in a backward regression with 20 different physiological measures to determine a relationship with the frequency of these life events occurring. These physiological measures indicated the P3 evoked response potential from an oddball paradigm. Results of the backward regression indicate that the mean of P3 amplitudes at electrode Cz predicted the frequency of negative life events, with greater amplitude P3 responses associated with fewer negative events. To our knowledge, this is the first reported association of negative life event frequency with the P3-evoked response potential.