Psychological resilience correlates with EEG source-space brain network flexibility

Abstract

We aimed at identifying the potential relationship between the dynamical properties of the human functional network at rest and one of the most prominent traits of personality, namely resilience. To tackle this issue, we used resting-state EEG data recorded from 45 healthy subjects. Resilience was quantified using the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). By using a sliding windows approach, brain networks in each EEG frequency band (delta, theta, alpha, and beta) were constructed using the EEG source-space connectivity method. Brain networks dynamics were evaluated using the network flexibility, linked with the tendency of a given node to change its modular affiliation over time. The results revealed a negative correlation between the psychological resilience and the brain network flexibility for a limited number of brain regions within the delta, alpha, and beta bands. This study provides evidence that network flexibility, a metric of dynamic functional networks, is strongly correlated with psychological resilience as assessed from personality testing. Beyond this proof-of-principle that reliable EEG-based quantities representative of personality traits can be identified, this motivates further investigation regarding the full spectrum of personality aspects and their relationship with functional networks. In this study, we investigated the possible correlation between one of the most important personality traits, resilience, with a metric of dynamic functional networks called flexibility. From EEG resting-state recordings in N = 45 volunteers, we unveiled such a correlation and identified the brain regions involved in psychological resilience, from frequency-specific networks.

Keywords

• EEG source connectivity
• Psychological resilience
• Resting state
• Flexibility