Mapping the Digital Mind: A Meta-Analysis of EEG Biomarkers in Cognition, Emotion, and Mental Health
Abstract
Background: Electroencephalography (EEG) provides millisecond-resolution measurements of neural activity, offering a unique potential to identify biomarkers of cognition, emotion, and mental health. However, the proliferation of methodologically diverse studies necessitates systematic synthesis to establish the reliability and clinical utility of proposed EEG biomarkers. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies published 2015-2025 examining EEG correlates of cognitive control, learning, emotion regulation, and mental health. From 3847 initial records, k = 210 unique studies (estimated n ≈ 9935 participants across 38 countries; see Methods for sample size derivation) met the inclusion criteria. Random-effects meta-analyses estimated pooled effect sizes for primary EEG markers across five research domains. Results: Frontal-midline theta demonstrated robust effects for cognitive control (k = 12; d = 0.89, 95% CI [0.72, 1.07]; I2 = 0.0%) and learning/memory (k = 10; d = 0.70, 95% CI [0.50, 0.89]). The late positive potential indexed emotional processing (k = 18; d = 0.87, 95% CI [0.75, 1.00]) and regulation success (k = 14; d = -0.65, 95% CI [-0.79, -0.51]). Neurofeedback showed very large effects for PTSD (k = 2; d = -1.98, 95% CI [-2.50, -1.47]) and moderate effects for anxiety (d = -0.62), ADHD (d = -0.60), and depression (d = -0.42). Alpha event-related desynchronization marked cognitive…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 9,935 participants or records.
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