EEG Patterns and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Abstract

Abstract This study examined the relationship between EEG recordings of 28 females with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and age matched controls of the same gender. CFS subjects' EEG recordings were also compared to their responses on the Profile of Fatigue Related Symptoms, and two questionnaires developed specifically for this study. EEG electrodes were placed in a monopolar arrangement (active lead at CZ, ground lead in the center of the forehead, and two reference electrodes clipped to the earlobes) according to the international 10–20 system, and impedance was kept below 6 kohms. The data were collected under two conditions: eyes closed and serial sevens (while the subjects silently counted backward from 900 by seven). CFS EEG microvolt levels were significantly higher in the 5–7 Hz range in both conditions and were significantly lower in the 9–11 Hz range during the serial sevens task. In the eyes closed condition, peak alpha (the frequency between 8 to 13 Hz at which the greatest amount of energy wa...