EEG FREQUENCY DIFFERENCES DURING PERCEPTI ON OF POSITIVE, NEGATIVE AND NEUTRAL WORDS

Power spectral analysis of the theta- and alpha-rhythms was performed in narrow frequency bands (1 Hz) for EEGs recorded from F-3, F-4, C-3, C-4, T-3, T-4, P-3, P-4, O-1, and O-2 derivations in 9 healthy adults viewing emotionally positive, negative, and neutral words displayed o n the screen. The relative spectral power in the 7-8 Hz band was highe r during presentation of the emotionally significant words than the ne utral ones. The EEG reaction to emotional words within this frequency range depended on the word valency. The relative power increase was re vealed in the range of 7-7.5 Hz during presentation of emotionally pos itive stimuli. This reaction was most expressed in the frontal, centra l, and temporal cortical areas. During presentation of the negative wo rds similar EEG reactions were observed within 7.5-8 Hz. In this case the frequency changes dominated in symmetrical frontal, right central, temporal, and parietal cortical areas.