The comparison of alpha power, peak alpha frequency, frontal alpha asymmetry between irritable bowel syndrome and healthy people

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder that is characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort and changed intestinal habits. The aim of This study was the comparison of features of brain oscillations in alpha frequency band by using rest-electroencephalography (EEG) between patients with IBS and healthy control. 11 IBS patients (7 female and 4 male) and 11 healthy (7 female and 4 male), gender and age-matched, were selected and brain oscillations were recorded by a 64-channel EEG at rest in eye-closed condition. Alpha power, peak alpha frequency and frontal alpha asymmetry were calculated and analyzed by fast Fourier transform and independent t test. The results showed that in IBS group, alpha power average (t= -2.56, p= 0.02) is higher and peak alpha frequency (t= 0.37, p= 0.028) and frontal alpha asymmetry (t= 2.7, p= 0.014) are lower than healthy control. our findings indicated the difference in cortical oscillations and its characteristic features between IBS and healthy control, which may serve as a biomarker and prognostic tools for IBS treatments.