FRONTAL BRAIN ACTIVATION IN REPRESSORS AND NONREPRESSORS

We assessed whether resting anterior asymmetry would discriminate indi vidual differences in repressive-defensive coping styles. In 2 session s, resting electroencephalogram was recorded from female adults during 8 60-s baselines. Subjects were classified as repressors or nonrepres sors on the basis of scores on the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MC), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Beck Dep ression Inventory (BDI). In midfrontal and lateral frontal sites, repr essors demonstrated relative left hemisphere activation when compared with other groups. The MC, but not the STAI or the BDI, contributed un ique variance to frontal asymmetry. Relative left frontal activation m ay be linked to a self-enhancing regulatory style that promotes lowere d risk for psychopathology.