Emotional Stroop interference for threatening words is related to reduced EEG delta–beta 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.