Exploring the Interface Between Gamma Oscillations and Psychological Resilience: A Multimodal EEG Pilot Study

While psychological resilience (PR) is critical for adaptive stress responses, its neurophysiological substrates remain unclear. Given that gamma activity (30–130 Hz) is implicated in the sensory integration and cognitive control necessary for emotion regulation, this study utilized multimodal EEG and psychometric assessments (N = 100) to evaluate resting-state eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) oscillatory dynamics in three experimental stages. Resilience was quantified using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRISC-25). Following a hierarchical signal-discovery protocol, a whole-head survey was conducted to identify sites of interest, providing independent data for hypothesis formation. Following rigorous artifact control (EOG-verified ICA; 90% mean epoch retention) and statistical adjustment for multiple comparisons (Benjamini–Hochberg FDR), a robust spectral cluster was identified at the left frontopolar site (FP1), showing consistent inverse correlations with resilience across 30–50 Hz, 50–70 Hz, and 70–90 Hz sub-bands (all p FDR = 0.043). Crucially, findings were strictly lateralized, with the adjacent FP2 site remaining non-significant. Results highlight a lateralized neurophysiological signature of resilience at the left frontal pole, arguing against diffuse myogenic contamination. Next, source localization (eLORETA) and functional connectivity (Lagged Linear Coherence) were utilized to characterize spatial dynamics. Source analysis revealed noteworthy activity near the left anterior cingulate and medial prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, functional connectivity analysis showed significant coherence correlates across nodes linked with the default mode network (DMN). Notably, the 70–90 Hz sub-band emerged as a consistent correlate across all three experimental stages. Prioritizing statistical parsimony over complex mediation, these preliminary, hypothesis-generating findings suggest that site-dependent and frequency-specific gamma activity may provide neurophysiological insight toward adaptive flexibility. In particular, the 30–90 Hz spectral cluster at the left frontopolar region appears to be associated with the resting-state profile of resilient individuals in complex, as-yet-unspecified ways. These pilot data suggest further investigation is warranted, potentially providing a foundational target for future longitudinal research into the oscillatory signatures of adaptive flexibility.