On the selective relation of frontal cortical asymmetry and anger-out versus anger-control.
The model of anterior asymmetry and emotion proposes an asymmetric representation of approach and withdrawal systems in the left and right anterior brain regions. Within this framework, 3 different concepts have been related to anterior asymmetry: affective valence, motivational direction, and behavioral activation. The aim of the present study was an empirical investigation into the relation between anterior cortical activity and questionnaire measures related to the 3 dimensions positive versus negative affect, approach versus withdrawal motivation, and behavioral activation versus inhibition. Subjects with relative greater left than right frontal cortical activity showed higher anger-out scores and lower anger-control scores. These results support the hypothesis that motivational direction is related to frontal asymmetry (approach-left and withdrawal-right). Furthermore, subjects with greater bilateral (left and right) frontal cortical activity showed higher behavioral activation scores. This finding might suggest that behavioral activation is related to approach and withdrawal motivation.
Hewig
Johannes
J
Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany. hewig@biopsy.uni-jena.de
Hagemann
Dirk
D
Seifert
Jan
J
Naumann
Ewald
E
Bartussek
Dieter
D
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000786:Anger; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004585:Electrooculography; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires