Stress features identification from EEG signals using EEG Asymmetry & Spectral Centroids techniques

Abstract

This paper presents EEG Asymmetry and Spectral Centroids techniques in extracting unique features for human stress. The study involved 51 subjects (27 males and 24 females) for Close-eye state (do nothing) and 50 subjects (21 males and 29 females) for Open-eye state (perform IQ test). The subjects then were categorized into 2 groups for all EEG frequency bands (Delta, Theta, Alpha and Beta) by using EEG Asymmetry technique. The negative asymmetry was labelled as Stress group and positive asymmetry was labelled as Non-Stress group. The data in each group in term of Energy Spectral Density (ESD) were normalized by using Z-score technique to produce an index to each asymmetry group. Next, the Spectral Centroids techniques were applied to each group and EEG frequency bands to obtain Centroids values. Since there were 2 asymmetry groups per EEG frequency bands, a total of 8 Centroids values were produced for each cognitive states. The plot of Centroids for both cognitive states showed some unique patterns related to stress.