Djl. Schutter et al., Parietal electroencephalogram beta asymmetry and selective attention to angry facial expressions in healthy human subjects, NEUROSCI L, 314(1-2), 2001, pp. 13-16
Research on cerebral affective processing in humans has concentrated on the
lateralization of the prefrontal cortex. However, the parietal cortex also
seems to play a role in motivation and emotion. In the present study the l
ateralized role of the parietal cortex in motivated attention was investiga
ted, using an electrophysiological correlate of brain activity (electroence
phalogram (EEG)) and a modified Dot probe task, which indexes selective, i.
e. avoidant or vigilant attention for angry faces in a spatial display. Twe
nty-two participants underwent an EEG baseline recording from the F3, F4, P
3 and P4 electrode positions, which was followed by the modified Dot probe
task. Spectral power in 1 Hz frequency bins were derived for each electrode
site and transformed to power density values in the 8-12 Hz (alpha) and 13
-30 Hz (beta) frequency range. Log-transformed prefrontal and parietal asym
metries and bias scores for selective attention to angry and happy faces we
re calculated. Results showed a highly significant relationship between the
asymmetry in parietal EEG beta activity and the attentional response to th
e angry face. Relative more right-sided parietal EEG activity in the beta f
requency domain was predictive of a more avoidant response to angry facial
expression. This finding suggests that asymmetrical parietal beta activity
might be linked to the behavioural dimensions of approach and withdrawal. (
C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.