Relationship between Spatiotemporal Dynamics of the Brain at Rest and Self-Reported Spontaneous Thoughts: An EEG Microstate Approach

Tarailis, Povilas; Šimkutė, Dovilė; Koenig, Thomas; Griškova-Bulanova, Inga · 2021 · Crossref

DOI: 10.3390/jpm11111216

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Summary

This study investigates the relationship between the spatiotemporal dynamics of the brain at rest and self-reported spontaneous thoughts, addressing a key limitation in resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) research: the inability to control or quantify participants' subjective inner states. The authors aimed to determine if specific EEG microstates—brief, stable patterns of global field power reflecting functional cortical networks—are associated with dimensions of mind wandering measured by the Amsterdam Resting-State Questionnaire (ARSQ). A primary objective was to resolve conflicting literature regarding whether Somatic Awareness correlates with canonical microstate C or microstate F, which are spatially distinct but often conflated in studies using fewer than seven microstate classes. The researchers analyzed 5 minutes of eyes-closed resting-state EEG data from 197 healthy participants aged 19 to 35. After preprocessing to remove artifacts and noise, the optimal number of microstate classes was determined using the Silhouette method, resulting in seven distinct microstates (A–G) that explained 83.8% of the global variance. Participants completed the ARSQ immediately after the EEG session, rating ten cognitive domains including Comfort, Self, Somatic Awareness, and Theory of Mind. The study employed a Bayesian correlation approach to assess associations between ARSQ scores and temporal microstate parameters (duration, occurrence, coverage, and global field power), chosen for its robustness in small samples and ability to provide evidence for both null and alternative hypotheses. The results confirmed the initial hypothesis that Somatic Awareness is negatively correlated with the coverage of microstate F ($r = -0.210$, $BF_{10} = 6.871$) and showed no significant correlation with microstate C ($BF_{10} = 0.090$). Additional significant associations were found between the "Comfort" domain and the duration of microstate E ($r = 0.220$, $BF_{10} = 10.949$), which provided the strongest evidence in the study. The "Self" domain showed substantial evidence for associations with the duration of microstate D ($r = -0.203$, $BF_{10} = 5.224$) and the occurrence of microstate B ($r = 0.192$, $BF_{10} = 3.305$). Demographic analyses revealed that age negatively correlated with the occurrence of microstate A and ARSQ Theory of Mind and Health Concern scores, while males exhibited longer microstate durations and lower global field power than females. These findings demonstrate that subjective experiences during resting-state periods are systematically related to specific neuroelectric microstates. By distinguishing microstate F from C, the study clarifies previous inconsistencies in the literature and validates the use of the ARSQ for quantifying inner states in neuroimaging. The results suggest that EEG microstate analysis, combined with subjective reporting, can enhance the interpretation of intrinsic brain activity, potentially improving the sensitivity and specificity of biomarkers in clinical and pharmacological research.

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• neuro workload indices