The Differential and Interactive Effects of Aging and Mental Fatigue on Alpha Oscillations: A Resting-State Electroencephalography Study

Abstract

Background: Both aging and cognitive fatigue are significant factors influencing alpha activity in the brain. However, the interactive effects of age and mental fatigue on the alpha spectrum and functional connectivity have not been fully elucidated. Methods: Using resting-state EEG data from an open-access dataset (younger: N = 198; older: N = 227) collected before and after a 2 h cognitive task block, we systematically examined the effects of aging and mental fatigue on alpha (8–13 Hz) oscillations via an aperiodic-corrected power spectrum, the weighted phase lag index (wPLI), and graph theory analysis. Results: In both spectral power and network efficiency, mental fatigue primarily modulates low alpha in younger individuals, while high alpha reflects stable age-related changes. The aperiodic offset and exponent decrease with age, while mental fatigue leads to an increase in the exponent. Notable interactions between age and mental fatigue are observed in low-alpha power, the aperiodic exponent, and the network efficiency of both low- and high-alpha bands. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the differential modulation patterns of alpha activity by age and mental fatigue, as well as their interactions. These findings advance our understanding of how aging and mental fatigue differentially and interactively shape neural dynamics.

Keywords

• alpha oscillation
• resting-state EEG
• aging
• mental fatigue
• functional connectivity