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Eustress humor associated laughter compared to stress differentially modulates EEG power spectral density across frequency bins 1‐40Hz (684.10)
Author(s) -
Berk Lee,
Alphonso Clarice,
Thakker Neha,
Nelson Bruce
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.684.10
Subject(s) - electroencephalography , distress , laughter , psychology , audiology , stress (linguistics) , developmental psychology , physics , social psychology , medicine , clinical psychology , neuroscience , linguistics , philosophy
Eustress and distress are complex processes that can differentially modulate positive or negative aspects of psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) mechanisms. The eustress of humor associated mirthful laughter (HAML) relate to fundamental aspects of human behavior. Some experiences are characterized by modulating PNI mechanisms and behavior for positive health benefits. No known electroencephalographic (EEG) study has been conducted to differentiate Power Spectral Density µV 2 (PSD) correlates across EEG frequency bins1‐40Hz for comparison of eustress HAML and distress. Purpose : This study assessed EEG PSD in 31 university students during HAML and distress. Methods : In a cross‐over design each subject was randomly administered two 10 minute videos: HAML (America's Funniest Home Videos) and Stress (Movie ‐ Saving Private Ryan). EEG wave band activity was recorded from 9 scalp locations F3, Fz, F4, C3, Cz, C4, P3, POz, and P4 using the EEG B‐Alert 10X System™. Results : HAML compared to distress showed Beta Band Activity (13‐30Hz) (βBA) (p=0.01) and Gamma Band Activity (γBA) (31‐40HZ) (p=0.001) for PSD greatest for all 9 regions. Most profound was HAML γBA was significantly greater than HAML βBA (p=0.01) for the same 9 regions. θBA (3‐7Hz) and αBA (8‐12Hz) for P3 vs P4 showed HAML greater PSD in the P3 region than P4 (p<0.01). Frontal region γBA and βBA was different from θBA and αBA for HAML p< .05. Central βBA and γBA, distress was different from HAML, p<.0001. Parietal αBA, βBA and γBA, distress was different from HAML (p<0.05). Conclusions : HAML shows EEG PSD correlates of change for specific bandwidths but greatest for γBA across all measured cerebral cortex regions (synchrony). Previous research show spectral density γBA is suitable for EEG‐based emotion classification of happiness and sadness. Our EEG findings further suggest eustress HAML can increase PSD of γBA synchrony and thus potentially enhance cognition, sensory perception, memory/recall, happiness & other health benefits.