To spindle or not to spindle: A replication study into spindling excessive beta as a transdiagnostic EEG feature associated with impulse control

Background: Frontocentral Spindling Excessive Beta (SEB), a spindle-like beta-activity observed in the electroencephalogram (EEG), has been transdiagnostically associated with more problems with impulse control and sleep maintenance. The current study aims to replicate and elaborate on these findings. Methods: Participants reporting sleep problems (n = 31) or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms (n = 48) were included. Baseline ADHD-Rating Scale (ADHD-RS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Holland Sleep Disorder Questionnaire (HSDQ), and EEG were assessed. Analyses were confined to adults with frontocentral SEB. Results: Main effects of SEB showed more impulse control problems (d = 0.87) and false positive errors (d = 0.55) in participants with SEB. No significant associations with sleep or interactions with Sample were observed. Discussion: This study partially replicates an earlier study and demonstrates that participants exhibiting SEB report more impulse control problems, independent of diagnosis. Future studies should focus on automating SEB classification and further investigate the transdiagnostic nature of SEB.