Impact of chronic stress on alpha band spectral power and the potential of digital correction of cognitive functions

A. V. Shkabara; G. O. Ushakova; O. V. Severynovska

doi:10.15421/0225099

A. V. Shkabara Oles Honchar Dnipro National University
G. O. Ushakova Oles Honchar Dnipro National University
O. V. Severynovska Oles Honchar Dnipro National University

Keywords: cognitive training, electroencephalography (EEG), frontal cortex, neuroplasticity, perceived stress, sex-differences, spectral power density (PSD), visual memory.

Abstract

Chronic stress causes hormonal and neurochemical changes, disrupting the balance of excitation and inhibition processes in the brain, which affects the rhythmic activity of neural networks, particularly in terms of power spectral density (PSD) in the alpha frequency range. Also, stress negatively affects cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and executive control. This study examined the relationship between PSD in the alpha band and performance o f visual memory tasks in students with different levels of perceived stress living near the front line of a military conflict. The study included resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and cognitive tests before and after a month of training on the CogniFit platform. The results showed that increased alpha-band power in frontal regions was positively associated with visual memory performance in individuals with low stress l e vels. Decreased alpha activity in parietal-occipital regions predicted improved task performance. Men with low stress showed d o minant activation in the right frontal area (Fp2), while women demonstrated more balanced bilateral prefrontal activity. The regre s sion analysis revealed weaker associations between alpha activity and memory performance in the moderate stress group, which may reflect reduced neural efficiency and higher interindividual variability. After cognitive training, both groups showed increased alpha activity in the frontal cortex and decreased alpha power in parietal-occipital regions, reflecting cognitive improvement. This was associated with process automatization and a shift in activity to posterior brain regions in men. In women, prefrontal control increased, indicating more deliberate cognitive regulation. Although the cognitive training effectively improves short-term visual memory, sex-specific neural pa t terns were observed after training, reflecting differences in stress levels and brain organization. The results highlight individual differences in brain neuroplasticity, which should be considered when developing cognitive training programs.

References

Alyan, E., Saad, N. M., Kamel, N., Yusoff, M. Z., Zakariya, M. A., Rahman, M. A., Guillet, C., & Merienne, F. (2021). Frontal electroencephalogram alpha asymmetry during mental stress related to workplace noise. Sensors, 21(6), 1968.

Angelakis, E., Lubar, J. F., & Stathopoulou, S. (2004). Electroencephalographic peak alpha frequency correlates of cognitive traits. Neuroscience Letters, 371(1), 60–63.

Attar, E. T. (2022). Review of electroencephalography signals approaches for mental stress assessment. Neurosciences Journal, 27(4), 209–215.

Chen, X., Ma, R., Zhang, W., Zeng, G. Q., Wu, Q., Yimiti, A., Xia, X., Cui, J., Liu, Q., Meng, X., Bu, J., Chen, Q., Pan, Y., Yu, N. X., Wang, S., Deng, Z.-D., Sack, A. T., Mc Laughlin, M., & Zhang, X. (2023). Alpha oscillatory activity is causally linked to working memory retention. PLoS Biology, 21(2), e3001999.

Cocenas-Silva, R., Droit-Volet, S., & Gherardi Donato, E. C. S. (2019). Chronic stress impairs temporal memory. Timing and Time Perception, 7(2), 108–130.

Cohen, S., Kamarck, T., & Mermelstein, R. (1983). A global measure of perceived stress. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 24(4), 385–396.

Corsi-Cabrera, M., Ramos, J., Guevara, M. A., Arce, C., & Gutierrez, S. (1993). Gender differencesm in the eeg during cognitive activity. International Journal of Neuroscience, 72(3–4), 257–264.

De Ramón, I., Pacios, J., Medina, R., Bouhaben, J., Cuesta, P., Antón-Toro, L., Quintero, J., Ramos Quiroga, A., & Maestú, F. (2022). Alpha-band power increases in posterior brain regions in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder after digital cognitive stimulation treatment: Randomized controlled study. Brain Communications, 4(2), fcac038.

Dronse, J., Ohndorf, A., Richter, N., Bischof, G. N., Fassbender, R., Behfar, Q., Gramespacher, H., Dillen, K., Jacobs, H. I. L., Kukolja, J., Fink, G. R., & Onur, O. A. (2023). Serum cortisol is negatively related to hippocampal volume, brain structure, and memory performance in healthy aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 15, 1154112.

Ericson, J., Palva, S., Palva, M., & Klingberg, T. (2024). Strengthening of alpha synchronization is a neural correlate of cognitive transfer. Cerebral Cortex, 34(2), bhad527.

Ghazi, T. R., Blacker, K. J., Hinault, T. T., & Courtney, S. M. (2021). Modulation of peak alpha frequency oscillations during working memory is greater in females than males. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 15, 626406.

Gong, L., Liu, T., Zhou, Y., & Zhang, R. (2024). The impact of sleep quality on visual working memory varied with the duration of maintenance. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1404989.

Haimov, I., & Shatil, E. (2013). Cognitive training improves sleep quality and cognitive function among older adults with insomnia. PLoS One, 8(4), e61390.

Heaton, R. K. (1981). Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Psychological Assessment Resources, Odessa.

Jacques, C., Quiquempoix, M., Sauvet, F., Le Van Quyen, M., Gomez-Merino, D., & Chennaoui, M. (2024). Interest of neurofeedback training for cognitive performance and risk of brain disorders in the military context. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1412289.

Jaiswal, S., Tsai, S.-Y., Juan, C.-H., Muggleton, N. G., & Liang, W.-K. (2019). Low delta and high alpha power are associated with better conflict control and working memory in high mindfulness, low anxiety individuals. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 14(6), 645–655.

Juras, L., Hromatko, I., & Vranic, A. (2025). Parietal alpha and theta power predict cognitive training gains in middle-aged adults. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 17, 1530147.

Lee, D. J., Kulubya, E., Goldin, P., Goodarzi, A., & Girgis, F. (2018). Review of the neural oscillations underlying meditation. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12, 178.

Lee, S., Kim, J. H., Kim, H., Kim, S. H., Park, S. S., Hong, C. W., Kwon, K. T., Lee, S. H., Kim, K. S., Choi, H., Kim, J. B., & Kim, D.-J. (2025). Investigating the effect of mindfulness training for stress management in military training: The relationship between the autonomic nervous system and emotional regulation. BMC Psychology, 13, 13.

Lenartowicz, A., Lu, S., Rodriguez, C., Lau, E. P., Walshaw, P. D., McCracken, J. T., Cohen, M. S., & Loo, S. K. (2016). Alpha desynchronization and fronto-parietal connectivity during spatial working memory encoding deficits in ADHD: A simultaneous EEG-fMRI study. NeuroImage: Clinical, 11, 210–223.

Li, W. W., Nannestad, J., Leow, T., & Heward, C. (2024). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) on depression, PTSD, and mindfulness among military veterans: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Open, 11, 20551029241302969.

Loock, K., & Schwabe, L. (2024). Cognitive training prevents stress-induced working memory deficits. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 9(10), 1039–1047.

Luo, X., Zhang, L., & Wang, J. (2017). The benefits of working memory capacity on attentional control under pressure. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1105.

Marakushyn, D., Bulynina, O., Isaieva, I., Karmazina, I., & Maslova, N. (2024). Impact of stress on emotional health and cognitive function. Medical Science of Ukraine, 20(2), 136–142.

Marshall, A. C., Cooper, N., Rosu, L., & Kennett, S. (2018). Stress-related deficits of older adults’ spatial working memory: An EEG investigation of occipital alpha and frontal-midline theta activities. Neurobiology of Aging, 69, 239–248.

Nicholson, A. A., Ros, T., Densmore, M., Frewen, P. A., Neufeld, R. W. J., Théberge, J., Jetly, R., & Lanius, R. A. (2020). A randomized, controlled trial of alpha-rhythm EEG neurofeedback in posttraumatic stress disorder: A preliminary investigation showing evidence of decreased PTSD symptoms and restored default mode and salience network connectivity using fMRI. NeuroImage: Clinical, 28, 102490.

Osokina, O., Silwal, S., Bohdanova, T., Hodes, M., Sourander, A., & Skokauskas, N. (2023). Impact of the Russian invasion on mental health of adolescents in Ukraine. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 62(3), 335–343.

Pei, D., Tirumala, S., Tun, K. T., Ajendla, A., & Vinjamuri, R. (2024). Identifying neurophysiological correlates of stress. Frontiers in Medical Engineering, 2, 1434753.

Peretz, C., Korczyn, A. D., Shatil, E., Aharonson, V., Birnboim, S., & Giladi, N. (2011). Computer-based, personalized cognitive training versus classical computer games: A randomized double-blind prospective trial of cognitive stimulation. Neuroepidemiology, 36(2), 91–99.

Preiss, M., Shatil, E., Čermáková, R., Cimermanová, D., & Ram, I. (2013). Personalized cognitive training in unipolar and bipolar disorder: A study of cognitive functioning. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7, 108.

Saffari, F., Norouzi, K., Bruni, L. E., Zarei, S., & Ramsøy, T. Z. (2023). Impact of varying levels of mental stress on phase information of EEG signals: A study on the frontal, central, and parietal regions. Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, 86(B), 105236.

Salminen, T., Strobach, T., & Schubert, T. (2012). On the impacts of working memory training on executive functioning. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 6, 166.

Schwabe, L. (2025). Memory under stress: From adaptation to disorder. Biological Psychiatry, 97(4), 339–348.

Schwabe, L., Hermans, E. J., Joëls, M., & Roozendaal, B. (2022). Mechanisms of memory under stress. Neuron, 110(9), 1450–1467.

Shatil, E. (2013). Does combined cognitive training and physical activity training enhance cognitive abilities more than either alone? A four-condition randomized controlled trial among healthy older adults. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 5, 8.

Sherman, B. E., Harris, B. B., Turk-Browne, N. B., Sinha, R., & Goldfarb, E. V. (2023). Hippocampal mechanisms support cortisol-induced memory enhancements. Journal of Neuroscience, 43(43), 7198–7212.

Soriano, J. R., Bracho Montes de Oca, E., Karaiskou, A.-I., De Vuyst, H.-J., Rodriguez-Larios, J., Feng, N., Varon, C., & Alaerts, K. (2024). Bidirectional alpha power EEG neurofeedback during a focused attention meditation practice in novices. NeuroRegulation, 11(3), 230–241.

Spironelli, C., & Borella, E. (2021). Working memory training and cortical arousal in healthy older adults: A resting-state EEG pilot study. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 13, 718965.

Strzelczyk, D., & Langer, N. (2024). Pre-stimulus activity mediates event-related theta synchronization and alpha desynchronization during memory formation in healthy aging. Imaging Neuroscience, 2, 1–22.

Trenado, C., Trauberg, P., Elben, S., Dimenshteyn, K., Folkerts, A.-K., Witt, K., Weiss, D., Liepelt-Scarfone, I., Kalbe, E., & Wojtecki, L. (2023). Resting state EEG as biomarker of cognitive training and physical activity’s joint effect in Parkinson’s patients with mild cognitive impairment. Neurological Research and Practice, 5, 46.

Vanhollebeke, G., De Smet, S., De Raedt, R., Baeken, C., van Mierlo, P., & Vanderhasselt, M.-A. (2022). The neural correlates of psychosocial stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of spectral analysis EEG studies. Neurobiology of Stress, 18, 100452.

Zhou, Q., Cheng, R., Yao, L., Ye, X., & Xu, K. (2022a). Neurofeedback training of alpha relative power improves the performance of motor imagery brain–computer interface. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16, 831995.

Zhou, Q., Cheng, R., Yao, L., Ye, X., & Xu, K. (2022b). Corrigendum: Neurofeedback training of alpha relative power improves the performance of motor imagery brain–computer interface. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16, 977387.

Zoefel, B., Huster, R. J., & Herrmann, C. S. (2011). Neurofeedback training of the upper alpha frequency band in EEG improves cognitive performance. NeuroImage, 54(2), 1427–1431.