Electrocortical brain oscillations and social anxiety disorder: a pilot study of frontal alpha asymmetry and delta-beta correlation

Abstract The main objective of the present study is to investigate whether socially anxious individuals and healthy control show recognizable electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns in the frontal brain during baseline and recovery states. Towards this goal, this study recruited eight participants to examine the severity of social anxiety disorder (SAD) on EEG oscillations through the study of electrocortical frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) and delta–beta correlation. A group of healthy male participants was chosen (consisting of 4 SAD and 4 HC individuals), and they were assessed by using Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) to determine the level of social anxiety. Frontal EEG oscillations were measured to investigate the delta-beta correlation and frontal alpha asymmetry in baseline tasks (eyes opened and eyes closed) and recovery from social tasks (speaking in front of camera). As an outcome, Delta-beta coupling in SAD has shown greater correlation in baseline condition (eyes closed, and eyes open) than the recovery task, unlike HC individuals who exhibited greater correlation in recovery state more than baseline state. For frontal alpha asymmetry, SDA participant have shown greater left frontal cortical activity, whereas HC participants have demonstrated greater right frontal cortical activity. Taking all together, the reported findings indicate that delta-beta correlation and alpha asymmetry are presumptive EEG biomarkers of social anxiety.