DIMENSIONAL ANALYSIS OF HUMAN EEG DURING EXPERIMENTAL AFFECTIVE EXPERIENCE

The present investigation was designed to study whether dimensional co mplexity of EEG discriminates between internal and external attentiona l demands during affective experience. In the first task Ss were waiti ng for a slight electric shock (affective intake condition). In the se cond task Ss were engaged in the controlled imagery involving the emot ional experience 'programmed' during intake task (affective rejection condition). Both affective tasks were compared to the controlled rest condition. The results of imagery trial replicated previous demonstrat ion of the increased dimension of EEG during imagery in comparison to perceptual processing, with differences, confined to frontal and partl y to central sites. Affective intake trial in comparison to rest condi tion was characterized by significantly higher dimensional estimates o ver the central and more posterior (parietal and occipital) areas.