Introduction:

During the last decades the electroencephalogram signal has been studied from a nonlinear mathematical perspective. This allows understanding brain electrical activity as a complex dynamical system.

Objective:

To evaluate Hurst exponents and their correlations in the gamma wave during an alternating attention and interference inhibition task in university students.

Methods:

The sample consisted of 14 physical education students. The Emotiv Epoc® brain-interface device was used to evaluate brain electrical activity. Alternating attention was estimated with the symbols and digits test, while the Stroop words and colors test was used for interference inhibition.

Results:

In the alternating attention test, four individuals revealed a greater propensity to chaos in the right hemisphere, one showed a greater tendency in the left hemisphere and two had no defined predisposition. On the other hand, during interference inhibition, variations of Hurst average values between the three Stroop effect slices were determined in five subjects, especially in the temporal region. Hurst exponents in both tests were found to be less than 0.5.

Conclusions:

During the attention test, a greater chaos of brain electrical activity is observed, with no correlations between the regions studied. During the inhibition test, the modifications of the Hurst exponents do not present defined patterns towards order or chaos.

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