Activity inhibition: a predictor of lateralized brain function during stress?
The authors tested the hypothesis that activity inhibition (AI), a measure of the frequency of the word "not" in written material, marks a propensity to engage functions of the right hemisphere (RH) and disengage functions of the left hemisphere (LH), particularly during stress. Study 1 and Study 2 showed that high AI predicts faster detection of stimuli presented to the RH, relative to the LH. Study 2 provided evidence that the AI-laterality effect is specific to perceptual, but not motor, laterality and that it is particularly strong in individuals with low mood, but absent in individuals in a positive mood state. Study 3 showed that negative affective stimuli prime the AI-laterality effect more strongly than positive affective stimuli. Findings from Study 4 suggest that situationally induced frustration (losing a contest), in conjunction with high AI, leads to increased attentional laterality. The present findings substantially bolster the construct validity of AI and contribute to a better understanding of earlier findings linking AI to physiological stress responses, immune system functioning, alcohol abuse, and nonverbal behavior.
Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany. oliver.schultheiss@psy.phil.uni-erlangen.de
Oliver C
OC
Schultheiss
Kathrin
K
Riebel
Nicolette M
NM
Jones
D000339:Affect; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D055815:Young Adult