Theta, Alpha and Beta Band Frequencies of Different Nicotine Dependency Level Among Smokers

Zodie Mohamed Hanafiah1,2,3, Noor Hayatee Abdul Hamid1,2,3, Mohd Nasir Taib1,2,3, 1Faculty of Electrical Engineering University Teknologi MARA, 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

2Nondestructive Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Centre, University Teknologi MARA 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor Malaysia 3Biomedical Research Lab for Human Potential, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Malaysia

zodie.mohamedhanafiah@gmail.com,nrhayatee@yahoo.com.my

Abstract—This paper presents a study of EEG pattern for different levels of nicotine dependence for smokers based on Theta, Alpha and Beta Band power using Power Spectral Density (PSD). 33 male smokers participated for this research. Participants were asked to fill in the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence Questionnaire and EEG data was recorded for 5 minutes. Results show some difference in the Theta, Alpha and Beta Band power of smokers from different levels of nicotine dependence, where medium dependence smokers have a higher Theta, Alpha and Beta Band power compared to low dependence smokers.

Keywords-EEG, PSD, Theta,Alpha Band, smokers,Fagerstrom

I. INTRODUCTION Human brainwave signals can be analyzed using a

technique called Electroencephalogram (EEG). Every human being is unique, in terms of one’s behavior or emotional state, therefore they will have a unique set of EEG brainwave pattern as well [1]-[5], [10], [13], [14], [16]. Addiction to tobacco can be considered as a behavioral state of the mind, thus having its own unique pattern of brainwave signal apart from alcohol addiction and drug addiction [1]-[5].

Tobacco is used as one of the ingredient for making cigarette. It is an addictive substance containing nicotine that alters one’s mood and behaviour and more than 4,000 other chemicals known for causing cancer [6]. These harmful chemicals include ammonia, acetone, butane, carbon monoxide, cyanide, methane and propane just to name a few [6].

The number of new smokers increases every year. The main reasons for the increasing numbers of new smokers are mainly due to fact that the tobacco company’s promotion tends to reflect a trending and appealing image of smoking [7]. Another reason is that, smoking helps the smokers to relieve them from stress [7].

The brain is the most important organ in a human being where it controls all physical movements, organ functions, and emotions. The brain cells also known as neurons are estimated to consist of one hundred billions neurons each connected to one another [8]. The brain employs a parallel distributed processing where it occurs simultaneously across the hundred

billions of neurons throughout the brain just like a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer [8], [9].

Neurons are a complex electrochemical system, where electrical activity is generated in terms of waves. These brainwaves are divided into four bands known as Delta, Theta, Alpha and Beta frequency bands [9]-[11]. Delta Band is associated with deep sleep, which has a frequency range of 0.1- 3 Hz with amplitude less than 100µV [9]-[11]. Theta Band is associated with emotional stress in adults, which has a frequency range of 4-7 Hz with amplitude less than 100µV [9]-[11]. Alpha Band is associated with rest and relaxation, which has a frequency range of 8-12 Hz with amplitude not more than 10µV [9]-[11]. Beta Band is associated with being alerted, which has a frequency range of 13-40 Hz with amplitude less than 20µV [9]-[11].

Electroencephalography is a technique that captures electrical activity on the scalp of the human head while electroencephalogram (EEG) is defined as the electrical activity recorded from the scalp using metal electrodes and conductive medium [10], [11]. A 10-20 Electrode Standard was introduced by the International Federation in Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology in 1958. This 10-20 Electrode Standard is used as a guide for the standardization of the electrode placements on the scalp [10]. 5 prominent areas of the skull are divided proportionally to provide coverage of all the brain regions. These 5 areas are known as Frontal (F), Central (C), Temporal (T), Posterior (P) and Occipital (O) [10].

This research records the EEG signal from the Frontal area of the skull, making the electroencephalographic procedure completely non-invasive that can be applied repeatedly to participants with no risk or limitation [10], [11]. In EEG, most researchers look into the Alpha and Beta Bands as it represent the feeling of rest and relaxation, and feeling alerted [10], [11]. Most researchers analyze the EEG signal by looking at the amplitude of the EEG signal, but for this research we used Power Spectral Density (PSD) to analyze the EEG signal [1]. EEG and smoking addiction can be correlated because the brain stores a memory in the form of electrical signal which is also can be translated to EEG [8], [9].

Research on addiction, like alcohol and drug addictions are more focused during the abstinence state of the addiction. The

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objective of this research is to investigate how different level of nicotine dependence effects smokers’ EEG pattern with the hypothesis that they will have different Theta, Alpha and Beta Bands power compared to each other. This hypothesis is based on the fact that smokers smoke cigarette to relieve stress and to be relaxed [7] based on the number of cigarette they consumed. The different levels of nicotine dependence are determined by the established Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence Questionnaire which is widely used by other researchers in this area [12].

II. METHODS This research is conducted at The Biomedical Research

Laboratory for Human Potential, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, UiTM Shah Alam.

33 male smokers took part in this research. The participants are asked to fill in The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence Questionnaire [12] and later divided into the nicotine dependence level. Figure 1 illustrates the electrode connections on the sample for EEG recording with guidelines from the 10-20 Electrode Standard. The EEG brainwave is recorded for 5 minutes using G.Mobilab and Matlab is used for the offline data analysis. Power Spectral Density (PSD) is used for analyzing the brainwaves [1]. The average values for Theta, Alpha and Beta Band brainwave signals were analyzed using statistical tools, SPSS version 15.0.

Figure 1: Electrode Connections

During the EEG recording, the participants were requested to relax and closed eyes in a soundproof room, maintained temperature 23° – 26°C, dim light, and comfortable chair with headrest. This is to ensure a good brainwave signal recorded with less artifacts on the data [1]-[5], [12]-[16].

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Results from the The Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence Questionnaire for the participants are divided into 2 levels of nicotine dependence; low dependence and medium dependence. Results are compared between low nicotine dependence and medium nicotine dependence smokers of PSD for Theta, Alpha and Beta Bands.

Figure 2 shows the mean normalized PSD Theta band between low nicotine dependence and medium dependence smokers. Low nicotine dependence smokers have a lower Theta Band as compare to medium nicotine dependence smokers. The percentage of difference is by 3%. High Theta Band power indicates some feeling of emotional stress as the higher the magnitude of the power reflects more brain signal activities [9]-[11]. Here the low nicotine dependence smokers shows a lower emotional stress as compared to medium nicotine dependence smokers [20].

Figure 2. Mean Normalized PSD Theta Band for smokers

Figure 3 shows the mean normalized PSD Alpha band between low nicotine dependence and medium dependence smokers. Low nicotine dependence smokers have a lower Alpha Band as compare to medium nicotine dependence smokers. The percentage of difference is by 37%. High Alpha Band power indicates that the person is feeling relaxed as the higher the magnitude of the power reflects more brain signal activities [9]-[11], [19], [20]. This result agrees with the hypothesis that smokers are tend to get more relaxed based on the number of cigarettes they take.

Figure 3. Mean Normalized PSD Alpha Band for smokers

Figure 4 shows the mean normalized PSD Beta band between low nicotine dependence and medium dependence smokers. Low nicotine dependence smokers have a lower Beta

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Band as compare to medium nicotine dependence smokers. The percentage of difference is by 13%. High Beta Band power indicates that the person is feeling alerted as the higher magnitude of the power reflects more brain signal activities. This result agrees with the hypothesis that smokers tend to being more alerted based on the number of cigarettes they take.

This result also agrees with other researches findings on Beta Band power of addictions where the Beta Band power of alcoholics and drug addicts have higher Beta Band power when the intake is of these substance is very large [1], [3]-[5], [13]-[20].

Figure 4. Mean Normalized PSD Beta Band for smokers

IV. CONCLUSIONS From the experiment, it can be concluded that there is some

unique EEG pattern among different levels of nicotine dependence smokers which also agrees with an initial study findings [19] and previous findings on smokers’ EEG pattern [20]. Medium dependence smokers have higher Theta Band power, higher Alpha Band power and higher Beta Band power compared to low dependence smokers.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT We thank all staffs of Nondestructive Biomedical and

Pharmaceutical Research Centre during conducting the experiment, Faculty of Electrical Engineering Universiti Teknologi MARA,Malaysia. We would also like to thank all the participants for their voluntarily participations in this research.

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