Exploring EEG Power and Correlation Patterns in AUD and OUD Patients: A Step Towards Better Diagnostics

Alcohol and opioid misuse, with roots dating back centuries, have been closely linked to various cultural, medicinal, and religious practices. Historically regarded as moral failings, Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) are now recognized as medical conditions. Modern treatment strategies combine pharmacological approaches and behavioral therapies. Electroencephalography (EEG), widely used in biomedical research, has become a key tool for analyzing brain wave activity in substance use disorders. By analyzing EEG frequency bands (Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma), distinct patterns of brain activity have been identified among AUD, OUD, and healthy individuals. This study reveals higher Gamma power in AUD patients’ frontal regions, while OUD subjects exhibit more central brain activity. Healthy individuals show a more balanced distribution across frequency bands. These insights could inform the development of more targeted treatments for substance use disorders.