Interindividual differences in alpha and theta power reflect memory performance

Previous research from our laboratory has shown that phasic or event-relate d changes in alpha and theta band power are related to memory performance. In this study, we test the hypothesis, whether tonic or 'baseline' power to o is related to memory performance. The ongoing EEG was analyzed for a samp le of 60 subjects during five experimental conditions: eyes closed, eyes op en, memorizing words and counting backward in steps of 3 and 7. The results show that subjects with good memory performance have significantly larger upper alpha, but less theta and lower alpha power. In contrast to memory, g ood calculation performers have more beta and theta power than bad performe rs. These findings were obtained during actual task performance, but in a s imilar way also during the resting conditions eyes closed and open.