title: Resting and task-elicited prefrontal EEG alpha asymmetry in depression: support for the capability model.
abstract: The capability model of frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetry suggests that brain activity during emotional challenge will be a more powerful indicator of predispositions toward psychopathology than activity observed at rest. EEG data were assessed during a resting baseline and a facial emotion task, wherein individuals with (n = 143) and without (n = 163) lifetime major depressive disorder (MDD) made approach (angry and happy) and withdrawal (afraid and sad) facial expressions. EEG asymmetry during emotional challenge was a more powerful indicator of MDD status than resting asymmetry for average, Cz, and linked mastoid references, results in support of the capability model. However, current-source-density (CSD) transformed asymmetry was indicative of lifetime MDD status under resting and task-elicited conditions. Findings suggest that CSD-transformed data may be more robust indicators of trait frontal EEG asymmetry.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Department, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Coan
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Towers
authors.forename: John J B
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000513:Alpha Rhythm; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012146:Rest; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alpha asymmetry; Capability model; Depression; Electroencephalography; Emotion; Motivation