Energy Metabolism and Spectral EEG Characteristics of Students with Different Neuroticism and Anxiety Levels in an Examination Stress Situation

Characteristics of the energy metabolism, external ventilation, and spectral characteristics of the EEG in an examination situation were studied in students with high and low neuroticism and situational anxiety. Higher energy expenditures, CO2 concentration, and the value of ΔO2 in the exhaled air were observed in students with high neuroticism and situational anxiety during the stressful preexam situation. In addition, they were characterized by more pronounced Δ-rhythm in the EEG spectra on right derivations and θ-rhythm in EEG spectra of both frontal and right central and parietal regions of the cortex. High values of the respiratory quotient, flow rate, and respiration frequency were observed in students with low neuroticism and situational anxiety before the examination at heightened energy expenditures. They did not display a more pronounced Δ- and θ-rhythms in EEG spectra of the analyzed cortex areas.