title: EEG asymmetry at 10 months of age: are temperament trait predictors different for boys and girls?
abstract: Frontal EEG asymmetry patterns represent markers of individual differences in emotion reactivity and regulation, with right hemisphere activation linked with withdrawal behaviors/emotions (e.g., fear), and activation of the left hemisphere associated with approach (e.g., joy, anger). In the present study, gender was examined as a potential moderator of links between infant temperament at 5 months, and frontal EEG asymmetry patterns recorded during an Arm Restraint procedure at 10 months of age. Positive Affectivity/Surgency (PAS), Negative Emotionality (NE), and Orienting/Regulatory Capacity (ORC) were considered as predictors, with PAS emerging as significant for males; higher levels translating into greater right-frontal activation later in infancy. For females, ORC accounted for a significant portion of the frontal asymmetry scores, with higher ORC being associated with greater right-frontal activation. The moderating influence of gender noted in this study is discussed in the context of implications for discrepancies in rates/symptoms of psychopathology later in childhood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-4820. gartstma@wsu.edu.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gartstein
authors.forename: Martha Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Susan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Calkins
mesh_terms: D004569:Electroencephalography; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013694:Temperament / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: EEG asymmetry; gender differences; infancy; moderator effects; temperament