Alpha Asymmetry Index Research Articles

The effect of high- and low-approach motivated sadness on frontal alpha asymmetry and other metrics

Sadness is commonly perceived as an affective state with negative valence. However, studies on the psychological and physiological effects of sadness have yielded mixed results. We proposed a systematic analysis of sadness, taking into account an additional dimension - the intensity of approach motivation, understood as an urge to move toward. We induced low and high approach motivation sadness while measuring electrical brain activity (EEG). We predicted that low approach motivation sadness and high approach sadness would evoke different patterns of frontal alpha activity. In our study, 41 participants were randomly assigned to a low or high approach motivation sadness induction. A significant interaction was observed when comparing low and high approach motivation sadness across the presented stories, as measured by the frontal alpha asymmetry index. To furtherly explore this effect, we conducted cluster-based permutation analysis on individual alpha peak-centered spectra, which revealed a more centrally diffused effect over the frontal areas in both hemispheres as well a significant activation over the occipital region. Low approach motivation sadness was associated with reduced alpha power over frontal areas, while high approach motivation sadness was associated with increased alpha power in the same region, both in comparison to neutral condition. These results might reflect Default Mode Network activation or the projection from occipital area. Based on these results, we propose a new perspective on sadness as a heterogeneous state that should be evaluated based on the intensity of approach motivation, rather than solely on its valence.

The role of the target language culture on Arabic learners' fondness for Arabic poetry.

As an important carrier of culture, poetry plays a significant role in deepening language learners' understanding of the target language culture as well as enhancing their language skills; however, the effect of the target language culture on language learners' enjoyment of poetry remains unclear. The study served as an attempt to shed light on the point of whether the target language culture has different effects on high- and low-level Chinese Arabic learners' fondness for Arabic poetry with the use of pictures related to Arabic culture and those not related to Arabic culture. In the current study, 40 Arabic learners (20 high-level and 20 low-level) scored the Arabic poem line based on their fondness for it after viewing two kinds of picture with electroencephalogram (EEG) recording. Frontal alpha asymmetry index as a correlate of approach and avoidance related motivation measured by EEG power in the alpha band (8-13 Hz) was calculated for examining whether the behavioral results of Arabic learners' fondness for poetry are in line with the results of changes in the related EEG components. Behavioral results illustrated that low-level subjects showed significantly less liking for Arabic poetry after viewing pictures related to Arabic culture compared to those not related to Arabic culture. The high-level subjects did not show a significant difference in the level of liking for Arabic poetry between the two cases. FAA results demonstrated that low-level subjects presented a significant avoidance-related responses to Arabic poetry after viewing pictures related to Arabic culture in comparison to viewing pictures not related to Arabic culture; while the FAA values did not differ significantly between the two cases in high-level subjects, which is in line with behavioral results. The findings of this research can benefit teachers in motivating students to learn poetry in foreign language curriculum and also contribute to the literature on the effect of target language culture on language learners' enjoyment of poetry.

Design and emotional responses: is there coherence between what is said and what is felt? A study using biofeedback and virtual reality

Identifying users’ experience when using products is one of the major challenges for design. Analyzing users’ psychophysiological reactions to an experience using biofeedback can produce more reliable results than using subjective evaluations, such as structured interviews and questionnaires. Two case studies were conducted to identify emotions users actually felt and to check whether there is some correspondence with what they reported after using two computational systems. The first system investigated users’ emotions during training on a vehicle driving simulator, and the second analyzed the emotions experienced during a car racing game, both in a virtual reality environment. User’s opinions about their emotional state were obtained using self-report techniques (using the Geneva Emotions Wheel—GEW and Positive and Negative Affective Schedule—PANAS questionnaires) and applying EEG (brain activity with Frontal Alpha Asymmetry Index—FAAI) and infrared thermography (facial thermograms). The training experiment presented the greater concordance between the psychophysiological and the self-report responses. Results evidenced the importance of undertaking multimodal studies in design research to determine users’ emotional experiences in a virtual reality context.

Electroencephalography (EEG) Frontal Alpha Asymmetry Index as an Indicator of Children's Emotions in the Three Quran Learning Methods: Visual, Auditory, and Memory.

Objective: Quran memorization is familiar in Indonesia since early childhood (EC) education level and it is reported to have a positive effect on children's emotional state. This study investigates how Quran memorization influences children's emotions in a certain condition using Frontal Alpha Asymmetry (FAA) index. Method : The participants were 4 children aged 5-7 years, studying at Islamic-based schools in Surakarta. The tasks included three methods of Quran learning: visual, by watching videos; auditory, by listening to murattal recitations of the Quran; and memory, by repeating rote. The FAA index measurement used absolute power data obtained from Electroencephalography (EEG) by calculating the natural logarithm (ln [right alpha power] - ln [left alpha power]) from channel F8 and channel F7 respectively. Results: The majority of participants showed a positive FAA index in almost all tasks. The FAA index of various tasks were not significantly different from each other, with P = 0.592 based on Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test. The post hoc Mann-Whitney U test does not find any intervention that stands out among the others. Conclusion: Learning the Quran with methods that involve visual, auditory, and memory activities results in positive, happy, motivated and excited feelings in children's emotional state based on the FAA index assessment.

Contextual Interference Effects on Approach Motivation When Learning Timing Tasks: A Frontal Electroencephalography (EEG) Alpha Asymmetry Study in Older Adults.

In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of contextual interference on motivational regulation, as measured by EEG (frontal alpha asymmetry), in older adults. Participants practiced a sequenced timing task in random, algorithmic, or blocked schedules in both similar and dissimilar task difficulty conditions, with task difficulty defined by absolute timing goals (in ms) that were either close to each other (1350, 1500, 1650) or far from each other (1050, 1500, 1950), respectively. We assessed older participants' timing accuracy in these conditions, during acquisition and delayed retention learning, using the frontal alpha asymmetry index, recorded during practice, to measure motivation. On the accuracy measure in delayed retention, the algorithm practice schedule (in both similar and dissimilar conditions) was associated with significantly more accurate performance than random and blocked practice schedules. Also during delayed retention and in both task difficulty conditions, performance was better with a random schedule than a blocked schedule. On the EEG motivational measure, frontal alpha asymmetry was more often higher as practice progressed in the algorithm practice condition than in other practice conditions. However, in the random practice schedule, in late, versus early, acquisition, motivational regulation was higher. The blocked groups showed decreased motivation as practice progressed. We interpreted these findings to be in accordance with the challenge point framework and with OPTIMAL motor learning theory and valence hypothesis.

Effects of Cognicise-Neurofeedback on Health Locus of Control, Depression, and Quantitative Electroencephalography Alpha Asymmetry in Elderly Women.

Background: With an increase in the aged population, there is a growing concern regarding the care of the elderly. This study aims to identify effects of cognicise-neurofeedback on health locus of control, depression, and quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) alpha asymmetry in elderly women. Methods: A quasi-experimental control group pre-test–post-test design was used. Korean women aged 65 years or over at a senior welfare center were randomly allocated to the control (n = 12) or experimental (n = 19) groups from July to October 2019. The intervention consisted of cognicise (exercise with intensified cognitive activity) and neurofeedback twice a week for 10 weeks. The locus of control and depression were measured via self-reported questionnaires. QEEG alpha asymmetry was measured using BrainMaster. Results: Depression significantly decreased in the experimental group (t = 4.113, p = 0.001), while internality in the locus of control significantly decreased in the control group (t = 3.023, p = 0.012). On the other hand, QEEG alpha asymmetry index differences in F3-F4 between the pre-test and post-test were not significant in the experimental group (t = 0.491, p = 0.629) or control group (t = 0.413, p = 0.678). Conclusions: Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, contact between the elderly and healthcare workers in the clinical practice field has become more restricted. These findings can help decrease negative emotions among elderly women in the community based on an integrated neuroscientific approach.

The Neurophysiological Substrate of the Decision-Making Process in Depressed Patients

Background: The neural circuits involved in the decision-making process and social emotion participate in the same circuits seen in major depressive disorder. This study aimed to investigate in depressed patients, the decision making process in risk/reward situations using neurophysiological methods for a better assessment of functional aspects related to decision making deficit that are seen in major depression. Methods: Forty patients were studied, 20 with depression and 20 without. After applied the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) and Hamilton Depression scale (HAM-D), the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) was applied to analyze the risk/ reward decision-making behavior. The Skin Conductance Response (SCR) was recorded to analyze the emotional anticipatory learning effect during the IGT. Besides, an EEG was recorded to measure the Frontal Alpha Asymmetry Index (FAAI). Results: Depressed patients presented a lower Net score and a deficit in anticipatory learning effect in the IGT. Furthermore, the FAAI revealed more frontal right activation as have described in previous studies. Conclusion: Patients with major depression have a dysfunction in the circuits that modulate cognitive, emotional and social behavior, and also, impairment in cognitive fluidity for evaluating strategies for risk-reward. The EEG helps to confirm that asymmetry in frontal areas and oscillation of alpha frequencies participate in the regulation of emotion in depressed patients.

Impact of emotional and motivational regulation on putting performance: a frontal alpha asymmetry study.

BackgroundThe efficacy of emotional and motivational regulation can determine athletic performance. Giving the short duration and fast changing nature of emotions experienced by athletes in competition, it is important to examine the temporal dynamics of emotional and motivational regulation. The aim of this study was to investigate emotional and motivational regulation as measured by frontal alpha asymmetry in skilled golfers during putting performance after a performance failure.MethodsTwenty skilled university golfers were recruited and requested to perform 40 putts at an individualized difficulty level of 40–60% successful putting rate. Trials immediately after a failed putt were selected for analysis. Successful performances were those trials where a hole was and unsuccessful performances were those that failed. The frontal alpha asymmetry index of LnF4-LnF3 was derived for statistical analysis.Results(1) Successful performance was preceded by a larger frontal alpha asymmetry index at T2 than that of T1, and (2) a larger frontal alpha asymmetry index was observed for unsuccessful performance than for successful performance at T1.DiscussionThe results suggest that successful emotional and motivational regulation was characterized by a progressive increase of frontal alpha asymmetry, which led to subsequent putting success when facing an emotionally provocative putting failure. These findings shed light on the application of frontal alpha asymmetry for the understanding and enhancement of emotional and motivational regulation during sport performance.

Prefrontal alpha Asymmetry index predicts response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Background and Aims: Determining objective measures correlated with response or non-response to rTMS is a crucial step in developing effective treatments for depression. We aimed to determine the changes of alpha asymmetric indexes of prefrontal and frontal cortexes that are correlated with treatment response to rTMS.

The Effect of Music on Human Brain; Frequency Domain and Time Series Analysis Using Electroencephalogram

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of music stimuli on human brain using electroencephalogram (EEG). The study comprises of two experiments, a short term and a long term experiment referred to as experiment 1 and experiment 2, respectively. Two types of music stimuli; favorite music (preferred music of the subjects) and relaxing music (composed of alpha binaural beats) are used in experiment 1. Experiment 2 is conducted using relaxing music. Assessment of soothing effects of the music on human brain is done by analyzing different features; absolute power in alpha band, approximate entropy, sample entropy, and frontal asymmetry using EEG recordings. The ANOVA measures for the extracted features indicated no significant change in experiment 1. In experiment 2, the features are evaluated for the music listening group and control group separately. From ANOVA results, no significant change is observed in the control group after both conditions ( $1^{\mathrm {st}}$ week and $2^{\mathrm {nd}}$ week) with respect to the baseline. On the other hand, significant change was observed in the music listening group, for all features investigated; (a) absolute alpha power: condition (baseline and $1^{\mathrm {st}}$ week) $F=4.59$ , $P , condition (baseline and $2^{\mathrm {nd}}$ week) $F=18.87$ , $P (b) approximate entropy: condition (baseline and $2^{\mathrm {nd}}$ week) $F=30.62$ , $P (c) sample entropy: condition (baseline and $1^{\mathrm {st}}$ week) $F=4.75$ , $P , condition (baseline and $2^{\mathrm {nd}}$ week) $F=38.37$ , $P . For inter-hemispheric alpha asymmetry index measured from the frontal region of the brain; no significant change is observed in both experiments. Hence, the main contribution of this study is to investigate the EEG dynamics under different music stimuli. The results indicate that relaxing music has better soothing effects as compared to the favorite music. It is also observed that the effect of relaxation is significant when the relaxing music is listened for a longer period of time (2 weeks).

Frontal EEG alpha band asymmetry as a predictor of reasoning deficiency in depressed people

ABSTRACTCognitive deficits in depression are mostly apparent in executive functions, especially when integration of information and reasoning is required. In parallel, there are also numerous studies pointing to the frontal alpha band asymmetry as a psychophysiological marker of depression. In this study, we explored the role of frontal alpha asymmetry as a potential factor explaining the cognitive problems accompanying depression. Twenty-six depressed and 26 control participants completed a reasoning task and underwent 5 minutes of electroencephalography recording. In line with the previous studies, depressed people showed difficulties with reasoning but we did not observe the relationship between frontal asymmetry in the alpha band and depression. However, we found that in the depressed group the frontal alpha asymmetry index was characterised by larger variance than in the control group, and it was also a strong predictor of cognitive functioning exclusively in the depressed group. Our results point to the disruption of a psychophysiological balance, reflected in changed frontal alpha asymmetry (into more left-sided frontal asymmetry in the alpha band, reflecting more right-sided cortical activity) as a possible brain correlate of cognitive disturbances present in depressive disorders.

Asymmetric activation of the anterior cerebral cortex in recipients of IRECA: preliminary evidence for the energetic effects of an intention-based biofield treatment modality on human neurophysiology.

Neurophysiologic studies of mindfulness link the health benefits of meditation to activation of the left-anterior cerebral cortex. The similarity and functional importance of intention and attentional stance in meditative and biofield therapeutic practices suggest that modulation of recipient anterior asymmetric activation may mediate the energetic effects of intention-based biofield treatments as well. The aim of the current study was to test this hypothesis by using a treatment modality known as IRECA (Istituto di Ricerca sull'Energia Cosmica Applicata). Participants' electroencephalograms (EEG) were recorded over a 5-minute recovery period (subdivided into three 100-second intervals) while participants received genuine IRECA, placebo treatment, or no treatment, after completion of a cognitively demanding task. 21 undergraduate students (3 men and 18 women; mean age, 22.1 years). All were right-handed and none had a history of neurologic or psychological impairment. (1) Alpha Asymmetry Index (AAI), a standard measure of anterior asymmetric activation of the cerebral cortex, defined as the average right hemisphere minus left hemisphere log alpha power of EEG recordings for homologous pairs of electrodes in frontal and prefrontal regions; (2) self-report measures of state anxiety obtained at baseline, before treatment, and after treatment, using a short form of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. In line with predictions, recipients of IRECA showed enhanced left-anterior activation of the cerebral cortex relative to placebo and no-treatment controls (as indicated by significantly higher and significantly positive AAI scores) during the first 100 seconds of treatment, and they reported greater overall reduction in state anxiety relative to baseline measures. The current study provides preliminary supporting evidence for an intention-based biofield therapeutic modality offsetting the negative effects of stress via sympathetic activation of recipients' left-anterior cerebral cortex.

Positive Emotions Associated with "Counter-Strike" Game Playing.

Digital game playing engages people for long periods of time. The pleasure offered by digital games may explain the players' consumption of this activity. Games may elicit both positive and negative emotions, which can be measured by encephalography (EEG). The EEG alpha asymmetry index (AI) is different in positive and negative emotions and so may be used to distinguish positive from negative emotions that occur during gaming. We hypothesized that the "Counter-Strike" (CS) game (Valve Software, Bellevue, WA) is pleasurable and demonstrable with a positive EEG AI. Twelve male participants ages 18-30 years underwent EEG recordings continuously during and postgame. EEG was also recorded pregame for control conditions of baseline (sitting on a chair staring at a blank wall), movement (moving fingers on the computer keyboard with a blank screen), sound (listening to the sound of the CS game with a blank screen), and screen (watching the CS game without playing). Self-ratings of emotional responses were completed at pre-, during, and postgame. A significant decrease in the EEG AI was observed under the screen condition compared with baseline, whereas an increase was observed postgame compared with the screen condition. The participants demonstrated a positive EEG AI following the "shoot" events (shoot opponents) and negative emotions after the "being shot" events. Subjective ratings of emotional response indicated happiness during and postgame, but anger and arousal were reported only during the game. The overall results are consistent with the hypothesis that predominantly positive emotional reactions are elicited from playing the CS game and concur with positive subjective ratings of happiness. Future studies may explore the relationship of game pleasure and obsessive game play.

EEG Topography and Tomography (LORETA) in Diagnosis and Pharmacotherapy of Depression

Earlier investigations suggested an involvement of the right hemisphere and the left prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the pathogenesis of depression. This paper presents our own electroencephalographic (EEG) topography and low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) data obtained in unmedicated depressed patients, and the effects of two representative drugs of non-sedative and sedative antidepressants, i.e., citalopram (CIT) and imipramine (IMI), as compared with placebo in normal subjects. Sixty female menopausal syndrome patients with the diagnosis of a depressive episode without psychotic symptoms as well as 30 healthy controls were investigated. Concerning the effects of antidepressants, normal healthy subjects received single oral doses of 20 mg CIT, 75 mg IMI and placebo p.o. A 3-min vigilance-controlled EEG and a 4-min resting EEG was recorded pre- and post-drug administration and analyzed by means of EEG mapping and LORETA. In the EEG mapping, depressed patients demonstrated a decrease in absolute power in all frequency bands, an augmentation of relative delta/theta and beta and a decrease in alpha activity as well as a slowing of the delta/theta centroid and an acceleration of the alpha and beta centroid, which suggests vigilance decrements. In the alpha asymmetry index, they showed right frontal hyper- and left frontal hypoactivation correlated with the Hamilton Depression Score (HAMD). LORETA predominantly revealed decreased power in the theta and alpha-1 frequency band. Negative correlations between theta power and the HAMD were observed in the ventro-medial PFC, the bilateral rostral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the left insular cortex; between alpha-1 power and the HAMD in the right PFC. In the EEG mapping of antidepressants, 20 mg CIT showed mainly activating, 75 mg IMI partly sedative properties. LORETA revealed that CIT increased alpha-2, beta-1, beta-2 and beta-3 power more over the right than over the left hemisphere. However, also a left temporal and frontal delta increase was observed. In conclusion, EEG topography and tomography of depressed menopausal patients demonstrated a right frontal hyper- and left frontal hypoactivation in the alpha asymmetry index as well as a vigilance decrease, with a right-hemispheric preponderance. Within antidepressants at least 2 subtypes may be distinguished from the electrophysiological point of view, a non-sedative and a sedative. LORETA identifies cerebral generators responsible for the pathogenesis of depression as well as for the mode of action of antidepressants.

Electroencephalographic (EEG) Measurements of Mindfulness-based Triarchic Body-pathway Relaxation Technique: A Pilot Study

The "Triarchic body-pathway relaxation technique" (TBRT) is a form of ancient Chinese mindfulness-based meditation professed to give rise to positive emotions and a specific state of consciousness in which deep relaxation and internalized attention coexist. The purpose of this study was to examine the EEG pattern generated during the practice of this mindfulness exercise, and compare it to music listening which has been shown to induce positive emotions. Nineteen college students (aged 19-22 years) participated in the study. Each participant listened to both the TBRT and music audiotapes while EEG was recorded. The order of presentation was counterbalanced to avoid order effect. Two EEG indicators were used: (1) alpha asymmetry index, an indicator for left-sided anterior activation, as measure of positive emotions, and (2) frontal midline theta activity, as a measure for internalized attention. Increased left-sided activation, a pattern associated with positive emotions, was found during both TBRT exercise and music conditions. However, only TBRT exercise was shown to exhibit greater frontal midline theta power, a pattern associated with internalized attention. These results provided evidence to support that the TBRT gives rise to positive emotional experience, accompanied by focused internalized attention.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, hormonal, syndromal and EEG mapping studies with transdermal oestradiol therapy in menopausal depression

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the antidepressant and vigilance-promoting properties of transdermal oestrogen in post-menopausal depression were investigated utilizing hormonal, syndromal and EEG mapping evaluations. Sixty-nine menopausal women, aged 45-60 years without previous hormonal replacement therapy, diagnosed as major depression without psychotic or suicidal symptoms (DSM-III-R criteria), were randomly assigned to a 3-month treatment with transdermal oestradiol [Estraderm TTS (ETTS) 50 micrograms, applied twice weekly] or placebo. No other psychoactive medication was allowed. After removal of protocol violators, 32 patients were evaluable in each group, which did not differ in age, height or weight. As five patients discontinued prematurely in both groups and in one placebo patient a post-drug EEG could not be obtained, 27 patients remained in the ETTS and 26 in the placebo group for efficacy analysis. While in the placebo group, oestradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) remained unchanged, E2 increased and FSH decreased significantly in the ETTS group. Syndromal evaluation showed a significant improvement in the Kupperman Index (KI) as well as Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) in both groups, with no inter-group difference. However, EEG mapping demonstrated significant inter-drug differences in brain function, mostly over the left temporal region. While ETTS patients showed an increase of alpha and alpha-adjacent theta activity and a decrease of beta activity, as well as an acceleration of the delta/theta centroid and a slowing of the alpha, beta and total power centroid, no changes occurred in the placebo-treated patients. These neurophysiological findings suggest improvement of vigilance by oestrogen, previously referred to as "mental tonic" effect. There were no changes, however, in the frontal alpha asymmetry index, reflecting left frontal hypo- and right frontal hyperactivation. Thus, this neurophysiological variable represents a state-independent marker for depression. The tolerability of ETTS was very good.