title: Emotional Stroop interference for threatening words is related to reduced EEG δ-β coupling and low attentional control.
abstract: Previously, electroencephalographic (EEG) delta-beta coupling (positive correlation between power in the fast beta and slow delta frequency bands) has been related to affective processing. For instance, differences in delta-beta coupling have been observed between people in a psychological stress condition and controls. We previously reported relationships between attentional threat processing and delta-beta coupling and individual differences in attentional control. The present study extended and replicated these findings in a large mixed gender sample (N=80). Results demonstrated that emotional Stroop task interference for threatening words was related to self-reported attentional inhibition capacity and frontal delta-beta coupling. There was no clear gender difference for delta-beta coupling (only a non-significant trend) and the relationship between delta-beta coupling and attentional threat-processing was not affected by gender. These results replicate and extend an earlier finding concerning delta-beta coupling and cognitive affect regulation and further clarify relationships between delta-beta coupling, attentional control, and threat-processing.
authors.affiliation: Leiden University, Institute of Psychology, The Netherlands. PPutman@FSW.leidenuniv.nl
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Putman
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arias-Garcia
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pantazi
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Schie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003700:Delta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057190:Stroop Test; D055815:Young Adult