Brainwave Patterns and Anxiety Symptoms Among Young Adult Females: An Exploratory Study

There exists an urgent need for practical biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders. Understanding the neural underpinnings of early depressive and anxiety symptoms carries significant diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Recent studies have highlighted the influence of gender on the neural correlates of mood disorders, yet the specific mechanisms for it remain unclear. Based on previous research that has highlighted the unresolved nature of how gender differences manifest in EEG neural patterns of emotions, this study aimed to investigate the EEG characteristics of the relationship between alpha frequency brainwaves and mood disorders, focusing specifically on females. Resting-state EEG recordings (eyes closed) were obtained from 10 female young adult subjects (mean age = $21.80 \pm 0.79)$. Additionally, all participants completed self-report measures assessing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. EEG power spectral measures in the alpha frequency band (8 to 12 Hz) were analyzed for 32 electrode locations across the scalp. Bivariate analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between occipital alpha activity and anxiety scores. However, contrary to expectations, no significant correlation was found between alpha activity and depression scores. These results suggest that lower occipital alpha activity is linked with higher anxiety scores in young adult females. This study provides preliminary evidence for the potential use of resting-state EEG occipital alpha power as an indicator of anxiety symptoms. Future research with larger samples and longitudinal designs is needed to validate these findings and clarify the neural mechanisms involved.