Relations among EEG-alpha asymmetry, BIS/BAS, and dispositional optimism

Abstract

Past research has been unable to address whether the activity in the frontal hemispheres is related to the direction of motivation (approach versus withdrawal) or valence of emotion (positive versus negative). The present study was an attempt to address this question by using a standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) which provides EEG localization measures that are independent of the recording reference. Resting EEG, self-report measures of Behavioral Activation and Inhibition System (BAS and BIS) strength, dispositional optimism and a measure of hedonic tone, were collected from 51 unselected undergraduates. Three measures of cortical activation were obtained: (a) alpha asymmetry at conventional scalp sites, (b) anterior and posterior source alpha asymmetries (sLORETA method), (c) posterior versus frontal delta and theta activity. Both alpha asymmetry measures (conventional EEG and sLORETA) yielded significant frontal and parietal asymmetry correlation patterns. Neither measure identified significant associations between resting posterior versus frontal delta and theta activity personality traits. Higher BAS was uniquely related to greater left-sided activation in the middle frontal gyrus (BA11). Optimism was associated with higher activations in the left-superior frontal gyrus (BA10) and in the right-posterior cingulate cortex (BA31).