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arXiv · 2509.13875

Personalized Detection of Stress via hdrEEG: Linking Neuro-markers to Cortisol, HRV, and Self-Report

N. B. Maimon·Ganit Baruchin·Itamar Grotto·Lior Molcho·Nathan Intrator·Talya Zeimer·Ofir Chibotero·Nardeen Murad·Yori Gidron·Efrat Danino
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Abstract

Chronic stress is a risk factor for cognitive decline and illness, yet reliable individual markers remain limited. We tested whether two single channel high dynamic range EEG biomarkers, ST4 and T2, index stress responses by linking neural activity to validated physiological and subjective measures. Study 1 included 101 adults between 22 and 82 years of age who completed questionnaires on stress, resilience, and burnout, provided salivary cortisol, and performed resting, cognitive load, emotional, and startle conditions. Study 2 included 82 adults between 19 and 42 years who completed the State Trait Anxiety Inventory, underwent heart rate variability monitoring, and performed auditory, stress inducing, and emotional conditions. Correlations were considered meaningful when r was at least 0.30. Results showed that ST4 reflected physiological arousal and cognitive strain. In Study 1, resting ST4 was positively related to cortisol and lower in more resilient participants. In Study 2, ST4 correlated negatively with heart rate variability during stress and recovery. T2 reflected emotional and autonomic regulation. In Study 1, T2 tracked higher cortisol and was lower with greater resilience. In Study 2, T2 was higher with trait anxiety and correlated negatively with heart rate variability during stress and emotional conditions. Together, ST4 and T2 provide complementary portable markers of stress, supporting individualized assessment in clinical and real world contexts.

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N. B. Maimon, Ganit Baruchin, Itamar Grotto, Lior Molcho, Nathan Intrator, Talya Zeimer, Ofir Chibotero, Nardeen Murad, Yori Gidron, Efrat Danino. 2025-10-16. Personalized Detection of Stress via hdrEEG: Linking Neuro-markers to Cortisol, HRV, and Self-Report. https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.13875

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