EEG Coherence and Dissociative Identity Disorder

Abstract

This is the first study to apply EEG coherence analysis to the study of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). EEG coherence is argued to be an objective measure of cortical connectivity. Five DID patients were compared to five controls, who were professional actors. Fifteen dissociated DID alter states were studied, as were 15 “alters” simulated by the actor control participants. Comparisons of EEG coherence were made between DID participants and controls. Significant differences in EEG coherence were found in comparing DID host and alter personalities, with coherence found to be lower in the alter personalities. No significant differences were found in comparing DID host personalities and controls. The acted alters matched for age and gender, showed no significant differences in coherence compared to DID alter personalities. The results indicate that EEG coherence may be an objective measure of the neuronal cortical connectivity associated with DID.

Key Words:

• DID
• EEG coherence
• dissociation
• trauma