Left DLPFC Delta-Beta Cross-Frequency Coupling in Maladaptive and Adaptive Perfectionist: An Index of Stress Regulation?

چکیده مقاله

Cross-frequency coupling (CFC) as a candidate neural mechanism of affective control between

different neural oscillations coordinates complex cortical computations, such as information

transfer and encoding. It seems that frontal delta-beta CFC reflects cross-talk between

subcortical (delta) and cortical (beta) brain regions which correlate with attentional control

(reduced trait anxiety) and predicts stress regulation efficiency. However, prior studies suggested

that frontal delta-beta CFC is higher in an adaptive stress regulation mechanism (higher CFC in

low social anxiety people). Perfectionism has been linked to affective and cognitive processes

and mental health outcomes. Maladaptive perfectionism has a close relationship with some

negative outcomes and mental vulnerabilities, such as suicidal behaviors, obsessive-compulsive

disorder, stress, anxiety and depression. High or low stress is one of the major factors in

distinguishing both maladaptive and adaptive groups of perfectionists. As we know left

dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), one of the most stress-sensitive brain areas, is linked to

perfectionistic behavior.

To offer a better understanding of CFC in stress regulation, in this study the 64-channel scalp

electroencephalogram (EEG) from thirty participants (15 maladaptive perfectionism, 15 adaptive

perfectionism) was recorded. Then, left DLPFC (F3 electrode) delta-beta phase-amplitude

coupling (PAC) in maladaptive and adaptive perfectionists was estimated during the resting

state.