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

STRESS-DEPENDENT MODULATION OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC ALPHA ACTIVITY AND VISUAL MEMORY PERFORMANCE IN STUDENTS FROM A FRONTLINE REGION

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About the author:

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

Heading:

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE

Type of article:

Scientific article

Annotation:

Prolonged exposure to conditions of uncertainty and threat, typical of frontline regions during wartime, is accompanied by chronic stress that may affect brain functional state and cognitive performance, particularly attention and visual memory. One of the neurophysiological mechanisms involved in the regulation of these processes is alpha–band electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, which is associated with the control of cortical excitability, sensory information processing, and the coordination of functional brain networks during cognitive task performance. Under conditions of prolonged stress exposure, these mechanisms may undergo functional reorganization. However, it remains insufficiently understood whether the level of perceived stress modifies the relationship between brain alpha oscillations and cognitive performance, and to what extent this relationship is sensitive to external rhythmic stimulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of perceived stress level in modifying the relationship between EEG alpha–band power spectral density (PSD) and short–term visual memory performance in students from a frontline region, and to examine the effect of auditory alpha-band stimulation on this relationship. A longitudinal study (2024–2025) included 86 students (44 women and 42 men), selected from 1200 participants in the baseline screening, who completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS–10). Depending on stress levels, participants were divided into groups with decreased perceived stress and consistently moderate perceived stress. Short–term visual memory was assessed using the WOM–REST test (CogniFit), and alpha activity was quantified using EEG power spectral density across 13 channels. Statistical analysis included paired t–tests, regression analysis, and topographic correlation mapping. The most pronounced between–year improvement in visual memory performance was observed in subgroups with consistently moderate stress levels. Auditory alpha stimulation was associated with increased task accuracy in all subgroups, with the most pronounced effect also observed under moderate stress conditions. Regression analysis revealed stable positive associations between alpha–band EEG PSD and task accuracy, predominantly localized in parietal–occipital electrodes. After stimulation, these associations became stronger or extended to additional cortical regions. The findings suggest that perceived stress level modulates the relationship between brain alpha activity and visual memory performance. The most pronounced response to auditory alpha stimulation was observed in participants with consistently moderate stress levels, suggesting a specific “window of sensitivity” in neural networks to rhythmic sensory modulation.

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Bibliography:

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Publication of the article:

«Bulletin of problems biology and medicine», 2026 Issue 2, 181, 199-205 pages, index UDC 612.821:612.822

DOI:

10.29254/2077-4214-2026-2-181-199-205