OBJECTIVE Chronic pain studies investigating the ability to detect sensory processing differences related to thalamic gating using electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha have yielded conflicting results. Alpha's basic psychometric properties in pain populations requires further study. The present study reports on the test-retest reliability and internal consistency of EEG alpha power in older adults with chronic knee pain. METHODS Repeated EEG alpha power measurements were taken of older adults (N = 31) with chronic knee pain across two sessions separated by a ten-day period associated with a pilot clinical trial study. Recordings included resting periods (eyes open and eyes closed) as well as periods involving a pain management activity. RESULTS Most single alpha-power measures and all within-participant averages of alpha obtained within a session showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's α > 0.7) and satisfactory-to-excellent re-test reliability (Pearson's rs > 0.6) of both alpha power and alpha blocking (eyes closed minus eyes open) across repeated conditions. CONCLUSIONS EEG alpha power seems mostly reliable and consistent, particularly when participants' eyes are closed, after a period of habituation, and when alpha measures are averaged as within-participant estimates. SIGNIFICANCE This analysis suggests that within-subject averages of EEG alpha are the most reliable for developing indices of chronic knee pain.

中文翻译：

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重新测试患有慢性膝痛的老年人脑电图α波段振荡的可靠性和内部一致性


目的 慢性疼痛研究调查了使用脑电图 (EEG) α 检测与丘脑门控相关的感觉处理差异的能力，但得出了相互矛盾的结果。 Alpha 在疼痛人群中的基本心理测量特性需要进一步研究。本研究报告了患有慢性膝痛的老年人脑电图α功率的重测可靠性和内部一致性。方法 对慢性膝关节疼痛的老年人 (N = 31) 进行重复的脑电图 α 功率测量，分两次进行，间隔十天，与一项试点临床试验相关。记录包括休息时间（睁眼和闭眼）以及涉及疼痛管理活动的时间。结果 大多数单一 α 功效测量和一次会话中获得的所有参与者内 α 平均值显示出 α 功效和 α 功效的高度内部一致性（Cronbach α > 0.7）和令人满意至优秀的重新测试可靠性（Pearson rs > 0.6）。重复条件下的阿尔法阻断（闭眼减去睁眼）。结论 EEG α 功率似乎大多可靠且一致，特别是当参与者闭上眼睛、经过一段时间的习惯之后，以及当 α 测量值被平均为参与者内部估计值时。意义 该分析表明，受试者内脑电图 α 平均值对于慢性膝关节疼痛的发展指数是最可靠的。