Functional changes in bioelectrical activity under prolonged stress in the absence of organic pathology

The article evaluates the features of electroencephalographic markers of chronic stress and their dynamics after an antistress therapy course. The methods included clinical observation, standard resting-state electroencephalography recording with functional tests (hyperventilation, photic and phonostimulation), and subsequent analysis of α-, θ-, and β-band variability. Both patients demonstrated signs of functional dysregulation within cortico-limbic networks, characterize­d by increased θ-activity in frontocentral regions, reduced occipital α-rhythm, and transient high-amplitude β-bursts in the left frontocentral-temporal area. These patterns reflect hyperactivation of the anterior cingulate cortex and medial prefrontal cortex, as well as disrupted coordination within the default mode network. The findings are consistent with recent literature describing electroencephalographic stress marker­s — elevated frontal θ-power, reduced α-synchronization, and disturbed posterior coherence — as indicators of impaired thalamo-cortical regulation under stress. After completing antistress therapy, both patients showed normalization of electroencephalographic parameters, suggesting the reversibility of functional changes and engagement of neuroplastic adaptation mechanisms. The results highlight electroencephalography as a sensitive tool for detecting stress-related brain dysfunction and monitoring the effectiveness of psychophysiological interventions.