Coupling between delta (1–4 Hz) and beta (14–30 Hz) oscillations is posited to reflect subcortico-cortical communication and stress regulation. To validate delta-beta coupling (DBC) as an index of neural stress regulation, we investigated whether DBC changes during stress and whether these changes are associated with established stress responses.

We induced stress using a social-evaluative threat (impromptu speech) task and measured frontal and parietal delta-beta amplitude-amplitude correlation (AAC) and phase-amplitude coupling (PAC), as well as cardiovascular, affective, and endocrine stress responses.

Results showed no significant changes in either AAC or PAC in response to stress and no correlations with stress responses. However, baseline AAC tended to be related to more adaptive endocrine stress responses.

Our results suggest that delta-beta AAC or PAC are not valid neural indices of stress regulation itself, but rather traits that relate to differences in neuroendocrine stress responses.

三角洲 (1–4 赫兹) 和贝塔 (14–30 赫兹) 振荡之间的耦合被设定为反映皮层下皮层通信和压力调节。为了验证 delta-beta 耦合 (DBC) 作为神经应激调节的指标，我们研究了 DBC 在应激过程中是否发生变化，以及这些变化是否与已建立的应激反应相关。

我们使用社会评价威胁（即兴演讲）任务诱发压力，并测量额叶和顶叶 delta-beta 振幅-振幅相关性 (AAC) 和相位-振幅耦合 (PAC)，以及心血管、情感和内分泌应激反应。

结果显示 AAC 或 PAC 对压力的反应没有显着变化，并且与压力反应没有相关性。然而，基线 AAC 往往与更具适应性的内分泌应激反应有关。

我们的结果表明 delta-beta AAC 或 PAC 不是应激调节本身的有效神经指标，而是与神经内分泌应激反应差异相关的特征。