Left Frontal Activity Research Articles

The effectiveness of emotion cognitive reappraisal as measured by self-reported response and its link to EEG alpha asymmetry

Cognitive reappraisal is an important emotion regulation skill for psychological health and well-being, however, some people cannot use this strategy effectively. We investigated EEG alpha asymmetry by calculating lateral index (LI) when twenty-six healthy participants were instructed to complete the emotion cognitive reappraisal task of viewing neutral pictures, watching negative pictures and reappraising negative pictures. According to self-reported valence and arousal, the participants were divided into effective and ineffective groups. Habitual use of rumination was also assessed using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). EEG alpha asymmetry results demonstrated that, ineffective group showed greater relative right temporal activity than effective group in the early stage of reappraisal, indicating higher subjective arousal. Both groups showed greater relative left frontal alpha activity in the late stages of reappraisal compared with watching negative images, indicating the recruitment of corresponding functions in prefrontal regulatory circuitry during the effort of reappraisal. CERQ analysis results showed that, ineffective group got significantly higher score than effective group in habitual use of rumination. Partial correlation revealed that, in male participants, temporal LI change (negative-reappraisal minus negative-watch) was negatively correlated with self-reported arousal and habitual use of rumination. In addition, by using K-means cluster analysis, temporal LI combined with CERQ-rumination score achieved a classification accuracy of 84.6 %. These findings suggested that, EEG alpha asymmetry as well as the habitual use of rumination accounted for the reappraisal effectiveness.

Comparison of frontal alpha asymmetry among schizophrenia patients, major depressive disorder patients, and healthy controls

BackgroundElectroencephalography (EEG) frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) has been observed in several psychiatric disorders. Dominance in left or right frontal alpha activity remains inconsistent in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), patients with schizophrenia, and healthy controls. This study compared FAA among patients with MDD and schizophrenia, and healthy controls.MethodsWe recruited 20 patients with MDD, 18 patients with schizophrenia, and 16 healthy individuals. The EEG alpha frequency ranged from 8 Hz to 12 Hz. FAA was expressed as the difference between absolute power values of right and left hemisphere electrodes in the alpha frequency range (common-log-transformed frontal right- and left-hemisphere electrodes: F4–F3, F8–F7, FP2–FP1, AF4–AF3, F6–F5, and F2–F1). Hamilton depression and anxiety rating scales were evaluated in patients with MDD. Positive and negative syndrome scales were evaluated in patients with schizophrenia.ResultsPatients with schizophrenia showed significantly lower left FAA than healthy controls (F4–F3, schizophrenia vs. healthy controls: − 0.10 ± 0.04 vs. -0.05 ± 0.05). There were no significant differences in FAA between patients with schizophrenia and MDD as well as between patients with MDD and healthy controls.ConclusionsThe present study suggests that FAA indicates a relatively lower activation of left frontal electrodes in schizophrenia. The left-lateralized FAA could be a neuropathological attribute in patients with schizophrenia, but a lack of sample size and information such as medication and duration of illness might obscure the interpretation and generalization of our findings. Thus, further studies to verify the findings would be warranted.

Gesture in hyperscanning during observation. Inter-brain connectivity

Non-verbal communication is a joint action defined by the use of different gestures’ types. The present research aimed to investigate the electrophysiological (EEG) correlates during the observation of affective, social and informative gestures in non-verbal communication between encoder and decoder. Moreover, the hyperscanning paradigm allows investigating the individuals’ inter-brain connectivity. Regarding gestures’ type, the study’s results showed a decrease of alpha (increased brain activity), and an increase of delta and theta brain responsiveness and inter-brain connectivity for affective and social gestures in frontal and posterior areas for informative ones. Concerning gestures’ valence, an increase of left frontal theta activity and inter-brain connectivity was observed. Finally, about the inter-agents’ role, the same brain responses and inter-brain connectivity patterns emerged both in encoder and decoder. This study allows discovering neural responses underlying gestures’ type and valence during action observation, highlighting the validity of hyperscanning to investigate inter-brain connectivity mechanisms.

Resting EEG Asymmetry Markers of Multiple Facets of the Behavioral Approach System: A LORETA Analysis

Previously published models of frontal activity linked high relative left frontal activity to the behavioral approach system (BAS) and impulsivity. Additionally, these models did not account for BAS facets encompassing the anticipation of reward, i.e., goal-driven persistence (BAS–GDP) and reward interest (BAS–RI), from those that deal with the actual hedonic experience of reward, i.e., reward reactivity (BAS–RR) and impulsivity (BAS–I). Using resting electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, the source localization (LORETA) method allowed us to calculate the hemispheric asymmetry of the current density within the alpha band (7.5–13 Hz) in ten regions of interest. Compared to low BAS subtrait scorers, high BAS subtrait scorers (except for BAS–I) were correlated with greater relative left-sided activity in the superior frontal gyrus (BA10). Further, an isolated effective coherence (iCOH) analysis of the beta activity (21 Hz) disclosed that high impulsive scorers as compared to low impulsive ones had higher connectivity between the superior frontal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus, which was not compensated for by enhanced inhibitory alpha (11 Hz) connectivity between these regions. For the beta frequency, we also found in highly impulsive individuals that (i) both left and right middle temporal lobes directly influenced the activity of the left and right superior frontal lobes, and (ii) a clear decoupling between left and right superior frontal lobes. These findings could indicate reduced control by the supervisory system in more impulsive individuals.

Response inhibition to emotional faces is modulated by functional hemispheric asymmetries linked to handedness

Effective response inhibition requires efficient bottom-up perceptual processing and effective top-down inhibitory control. To investigate the role of hemispheric asymmetries in these processes, 49 right- and 50 left-handers completed a tachistoscopic Go/Nogo task with positive and negative emotional faces while ERPs were recorded. Frontal resting state EEG asymmetry was assessed as a marker of individual differences in prefrontal inhibitory networks. Results supported a dependency of inhibitory processing on early lateralized processes. As expected, right-handers showed a stronger N170 over the right hemisphere, and better response inhibition when faces were projected to the right hemisphere. Left-handers showed a stronger N170 over the left hemisphere, and no behavioural asymmetry. Asymmetries in response inhibition were also valence-dependent, with better inhibition of responses to negative faces when projected to the right, and better inhibition of responses to positive faces when projected to the left hemisphere. Frontal asymmetry was not related to handedness, but did modulate response inhibition depending on valence. Consistent with the asymmetric inhibition model (Grimshaw & Carmel, 2014), greater right frontal activity was associated with better response inhibition to positive than to negative faces; subjects with greater left frontal activity showed an opposite trend. These findings highlight the interplay between bottom-up and top-down processes in explaining hemispheric asymmetries in response inhibition.

Electroencephalogram frontal asymmetry changes during emotion‐eliciting tasks and parent–child interaction dynamics

AbstractFrontal Electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry during emotion‐eliciting tasks has been underexplored, and the current study considered changes in infant frontal asymmetry during positive and negative emotion‐eliciting tasks relative to baseline, consistent with the capability model. Importantly, variability in parent–child interaction factors related to task‐related EEG asymmetry changes was examined. Healthy infants participated in the Peek‐a‐boo component of the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery and the Repeated Still Face, with EEG data collected simultaneously. Asymmetry changes from baseline to Peek‐a‐boo and the second Still Face administration were considered with respect to parent–child interaction dynamics, coded utilizing an established scheme. ANCOVAs were conducted, with age and child sex as covariates, parent–child interaction factors as dependent variables, and Peek‐a‐boo/Repeated Still Face asymmetry changes from baseline as independent variables, dichotomized as either positive or negative in direction (i.e., associated with either a shift toward relative left or right frontal activation). Results indicated that groups based on changes in frontal EEG asymmetry from baseline to Still Face were associated with significantly different levels of reciprocity/synchrony, intensity, and directedness in mother–infant play exchanges. Results highlight the importance of understanding task‐related EEG activation and links with parent–child interactions, providing further support for the capability model.

高齢者は渋滞時に攻撃性が高まる：運転シミュレーターと近赤外線分光法（NIRS）を用いた研究

高齢者は渋滞時に攻撃性が高まる：運転シミュレーターと近赤外線分光法（NIRS）を用いた研究

Exploring approach motivation: Correlating self-report, frontal asymmetry, and performance in the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task.

Frontal EEG asymmetry has been investigated as a physiological metric of approach motivation, with higher left frontal activity (LFA) suggested to reflect approach motivation. However, correlations between LFA and traditional metrics of approach motivation (e.g., scores from the behavioral inhibition system/behavioral approach system [BIS/BAS] survey) are inconsistent. It is also not clear how LFA correlates to approach motivation on an observable, behavioral level. Here, we tested correlations between BIS/BAS scores, LFA, and performance in the Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT). In our sample (n = 49), BIS/BAS results did not correlate to LFA values (resting or task states), and were also unrelated to EEfRT performance variables. We found evidence of significant and distinct correlations between LFA and EEfRT performance. Resting-state LFA positively correlated to effort expenditure on lower utility trials, where reward size and/or probability were suboptimal. Task-onset LFA captured in the first 5 min of the task was related to overall behavioral performance in the EEfRT. High task-onset LFA correlated to high trial completion rates, high-effort trial selection percentages, and overall monetary earnings. One interpretation of these initial findings is that resting-state LFA reflects approach tendencies to expend effort, but that this extends to suboptimal situations, whereas task-state LFA better reflects effortful approach toward high-utility goals. Given the relatively small sample size and the risk of Type I/II errors, we present the study as exploratory and the results as preliminary. However, the findings highlight interesting initial links between LFA and EEfRT performance. The need for larger replication studies is discussed.

Frontal alpha asymmetry in schizotypy: electrophysiological evidence for motivational dysfunction

ABSTRACT Introduction: Schizotypy is defined as personality traits reflecting an underlying risk for schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. As yet, there is a dearth of suitable objective markers for measuring schizotypy. Frontal alpha asymmetry, characterised by reduced left versus right frontal region activity, reflects trait-like diminished approach-related systems and has been found in schizophrenia. Methods: The present study used electroencephalography (EEG) recorded on a consumer-grade mobile headset to examine asymmetric resting-state frontal alpha, beta, and gamma power within the multidimensional schizotypy (e.g. positive, negative, disorganised) during a three-minute “eyes closed” resting period in college undergraduates (n=49). Results: Findings suggest that schizotypy was exclusively related to reduced left versus right-lateralised power in the alpha frequency (8.1–12.9 Hz., R 2= .16). Follow-up analysis suggested that positive schizotypy was uniquely associated with increased right alpha activity, indicating increased withdrawal motivation. Conclusions: Frontal asymmetry is a possible ecologically valid objective marker for schizotypy that may be detectable using easily accessible, consumer-grade technology.

Neuroanatomic Correlates of Distance and Direction Processing During Cognitive Map Retrieval.

Navigating toward a goal and mentally comparing distances and directions to landmarks are processes requiring reading information off the memorized representation of the environment, that is, the cognitive map. Brain structures in the medial temporal lobe, in particular, are known to be involved in the learning, storage, and retrieval of cognitive map information, which is generally assumed to be in allocentric form, whereby pure spatial relations (i.e., distance and direction) connect locations with each other. The authors recorded functional magnetic resonance imaging activity, while participants were submitted to a variant of a neuropsychological test (the Cognitive Map Reading Test; CMRT) originally developed to evaluate the performance of brain-lesioned patients and in which participants have to compare distances and directions in their mental map of their hometown. Our main results indicated posterior parahippocampal, but not hippocampal, activity, consistent with a task involving spatial memory of places learned a long time ago; left parietal and left frontal activity, consistent with the distributed processing of navigational representations; and, unexpectedly, cerebellar activity, possibly related to the role of the cerebellum in the processing of (here, imaginary) self-motion cues. In addition, direction, but not distance, comparisons elicited significant activation in the posterior parahippocampal gyrus.

Family Members of Those with SUDs: Examining Associations between Family and PFC Functioning

ABSTRACT Family functioning impacts individuals with a substance use disorder (SUD) and relates to treatment recovery outcomes. A family system and each family member mutually influence one another. Research has also shown alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) functioning of family members who have a loved one with a SUD. This study examined associations between family functioning and PFC activation of such family members using functional near-infrared spectroscopy to measure cerebral blood flow in response to SUD loved-one images. A relationship was found between family functioning and left superior frontal sulcus activation. This PFC region is associated with social responding and self-referential processing. These findings support the importance of family member involvement in recovery processes, and highlight family functioning as an important factor connected with individual functioning and well-being.

EEG Frontal Asymmetry and Theta Power in Unipolar and Bipolar Depression

BackgroundDistinguishing between unipolar and bipolar depression is of high clinical relevance. However, there is sparse research directly comparing these groups in terms of EEG activity. MethodWe investigated 87 participants’ left and right EEG frontal alpha-1, alpha-2, and theta activity related to happy and sad face stimuli in unipolar (UD, n=33) and bipolar (BD, n=22) depressed participants, and controls without depression (HC, n=32). ResultsPost-hoc analysis of an observed hemisphere x group interaction (p< .037) showed significant differences in alpha-1 asymmetry only for the comparison of UD and HC (p< .006). Further analysis of a significant emotion x group interaction (p= .001) revealed a differential impact of stimulus valence on theta power between the groups (p< .001). The valence dependent theta power of the BD differed from that of the UD (p< .0002) and the HC (p< .004).Alpha-1 asymmetry classified HC and both depressed groups with an accuracy of .69. Valence-related theta classified BD from UD with an accuracy of .83. Leave-one-out cross validation resulted in slightly reduced accuracy. LimitationsImportant limitations were the small sample size and that subjects were not medication-free. ConclusionsOur results demonstrate the value of simple, task related EEG activity for differentiating not only healthy individuals from those with depression, but also individuals with unipolar depression from those with bipolar depression.

FRONTAL ASYMMETRY: A POTENTIALLY NOVEL BIOMARKER FOR SEDENTARY BEHAVIOR

Consistent with other human behaviors, sedentary behavior appears to be modulated, at least in part, by emotional and motivational processes. Past research has found that various emotion and motivation interactions show different patterns of asymmetric frontal cortical activity (FCA). It is possible that the decision, motivation, or the intention to engage in sedentary behavior may depend on the FCA. However, FCA has yet to be investigated as a potential neurobiological marker to predict sedentary behavior. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between sedentary behavior and resting frontal asymmetry using electroencephalography (EEG). METHODS: Forty-five college students participated in this study in exchange for partial course credit. A modified short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was administered to determine habitual level of physical activity and sedentary time. Standard processing of EEG data was performed using BrainVision Analyzer software. Univariate correlation analyses were used to examine the relationship between frontal asymmetry and sedentary time. RESULTS: Average number of minutes spent sitting on a weekday (r(22) = -0.45, p = 0.027) and on a weekend day (r(22) = -0.55, p = 0.005) correlated with relative left frontal activity. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, our data are the first to find a link between neurobiological markers of approach /avoidance motivation and sedentary activity, suggesting that reduced left frontal activity might be a novel neurophysiological marker for sedentary behavior.

Evidence of language-related left hypofrontality in Major Depression: An EEG Beta band study

Major depression (MDD) has been associated with an altered EEG frontal asymmetry measured in resting state; nevertheless, this association has showed a weak consistency across studies. In the present study, which starts from an evolutionistic view of psychiatric disorders, we investigated frontal asymmetry in MDD, using language as a probe to test the integrity of large inter- and intra-hemispheric networks and processes. Thirty MDD patients (22 women) and 32 matched controls (HC) were recruited for an EEG recording in resting state and during two linguistic tasks, phonological and semantic. Normalized alpha and beta EEG spectral bands were measured across all three conditions in the two groups. EEG alpha amplitude showed no hemispheric asymmetry, regardless of group, both at rest and during linguistic tasks. During resting state, analysis of EEG beta revealed a lack of hemispheric asymmetry in both groups, but during linguistic tasks, HC exhibited the typical greater left frontal beta activation, whereas MDD patients showed a lack of frontal asymmetry and a significantly lower activation of left frontal sites. In depressed patients, positive affect was negatively correlated with depression levels and positively correlated with left frontal EEG beta amplitude. Language represents the human process that requires the largest level of integration between and within the hemispheres; thus, language asymmetry was a valid probe to test the left frontal alteration encompassing highly impairing psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and MDD. Indeed, these severe diseases are marked by delusions, ruminations, thought disorders, and hallucinations, all of which have a clear linguistic or metalinguistic basis.

Prediction of Antidepressant Treatment Outcome Using Event-Related Potential in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

(1) Background: Prediction of treatment outcome has been one of the core objectives in clinical research of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study explored the possibility of event-related potential (ERP) markers to predict antidepressant treatment outcomes among MDD patients; (2) Methods: Fifty-two patients with MDD were recruited and evaluated through Hamilton depression (HAM-D), Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAM-A), and CORE. Patients underwent a battery of ERP measures including frontal alpha symmetry (FAA) in the low alpha band (8–10 Hz), mismatch negativity (MMN), and loudness-dependent auditory evoked potentials (LDAEP); (3) Results: During the eight weeks of study, 61% of patients achieved remission, and 77% showed successful treatment responsiveness. Patients with low FAA in F5/F6 demonstrated a significantly higher remission/response ratio and better treatment responsiveness (F (2.560, 117.755) = 3.84, p = 0.016) compared to patients with high FAA. In addition, greater FAA in F7/F8 EEG channels was significantly associated with greater melancholia scores (r = 0.34, p = 0.018). Other ERP markers lacked any significant effect; (4) Conclusions: Our results suggested low FAA (i.e., greater left frontal activity) could reflect a good treatment response in MDD patients. These findings support that FAA could be a promising index in understanding both MDD and melancholic subtype.

Electrocortical brain oscillations and social anxiety disorder: a pilot study of frontal alpha asymmetry and delta-beta correlation

The main objective of the present study is to investigate whether socially anxious individuals and healthy control show recognizable electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns in the frontal brain during baseline and recovery states. Towards this goal, this study recruited eight participants to examine the severity of social anxiety disorder (SAD) on EEG oscillations through the study of electrocortical frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) and delta–beta correlation. A group of healthy male participants was chosen (consisting of 4 SAD and 4 HC individuals), and they were assessed by using Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS) to determine the level of social anxiety. Frontal EEG oscillations were measured to investigate the delta-beta correlation and frontal alpha asymmetry in baseline tasks (eyes opened and eyes closed) and recovery from social tasks (speaking in front of camera). As an outcome, Delta-beta coupling in SAD has shown greater correlation in baseline condition (eyes closed, and eyes open) than the recovery task, unlike HC individuals who exhibited greater correlation in recovery state more than baseline state. For frontal alpha asymmetry, SDA participant have shown greater left frontal cortical activity, whereas HC participants have demonstrated greater right frontal cortical activity. Taking all together, the reported findings indicate that delta-beta correlation and alpha asymmetry are presumptive EEG biomarkers of social anxiety.

Right frontal brain activity at rest in the early 20s predicts threat-related bias ten years later among extremely low birth weight survivors

Exposure to early adversity is known to shape brain-behavior relations, which in turn can lead to hypersensitivity to threat and an increased risk of developing a range of psychopathologies. To date, much of the work in this area has considered exposure to negative post-natal events (e.g., maltreatment) in shaping these relations in humans. Here we examined the influence of prenatal adversity in the form of a suboptimal intra-uterine environment (i.e., being born at extremely low birth weight; [ELBW i.e., < 1000 g]). ELBW babies are the tiniest and most at-risk infants and are known to be at risk for internalizing problems (e.g., depression and anxiety) from childhood through early adulthood. However, we know relatively little about the mechanism(s) underlying this risk. Using the oldest known prospectively followed cohort of ELBW survivors, we examined associations among birth weight status, individual differences in frontal brain electrical activity (EEG) at rest (a marker of affective style) at age 22−26 years, and threat-related biases to angry faces (using the dot probe task) at 30−35 years of age. We found that among ELBW adults, those displaying greater relative right frontal EEG activity at rest exhibited greater vigilance to angry faces than those exhibiting greater relative left frontal EEG activity (n = 34, r = -0.40, p = .02). This pattern was not observed among normal birth weight (NBW) control participants (n = 47, r = .08, p > .05). As well, the relation between frontal EEG asymmetry and vigilance to angry faces was stronger for the ELBW group versus the NBW group (z = -2.21, p = .03). These findings suggest that exposure to significant prenatal adversity may have long-term programming effects on biological and cognitive systems associated with emotion regulatory processes in the fourth decade of life. We speculate that these vulnerabilities may contribute to making some ELBW survivors susceptible to psychopathology.

The influence of maternal anxiety and depression symptoms on fNIRS brain responses to emotional faces in 5- and 7-month-old infants

Greater relative right (versus left) frontal cortical activation to emotional faces as measured with alpha power in the electroencephalogram (EEG), has been considered a promising neural marker of increased vulnerability to psychopathology and emotional disorders. We set out to explore multichannel fNIRS as a tool to investigate infants’ frontal asymmetry responses (hypothesizing greater right versus left frontal cortex activation) to emotional faces as influenced by maternal anxiety and depression symptoms during the postnatal period. We also explored activation differences in fronto-temporal regions associated with facial emotion processing. Ninety-one typically developing 5- and 7-month-old infants were shown photographs of women portraying happy, fearful and angry expressions. Hemodynamic brain responses were analyzed over two frontopolar and seven bilateral cortical regions subdivided into frontal, temporal and parietal areas, defined by age-appropriate MRI templates. Infants of mothers reporting higher negative affect had greater oxyhemoglobin (oxyHb) activation across all emotions over the left inferior frontal gyrus, a region implicated in emotional communication. Follow-up analyses indicated that associations were driven by maternal depression, but not anxiety symptoms. Overall, we found no support for greater right versus left frontal cortex activation in association with maternal negative affect. Findings point to the potential utility of fNIRS as a method for identifying altered neural substrates associated with exposure to maternal depression in infancy.

Do Adolescents Use Substances to Relieve Uncomfortable Sensations? A Preliminary Examination of Negative Reinforcement among Adolescent Cannabis and Alcohol Users.

Alcohol and cannabis use are highly prevalent among adolescents and associated with negative consequences. Understanding motivations behind substance use in youth is important for informing prevention and intervention efforts. The present study aims to examine negative reinforcement principles of substance use among adolescent cannabis and alcohol users by pairing a cue reactivity paradigm with an aversive interoceptive stimulus. Adolescents (ages 15–17), classified as controls (CTL; n = 18), cannabis and/or alcohol experimenters (CAN+ALC-EXP; n = 16), or individuals meeting clinical criteria for cannabis and/or alcohol use disorder (CAN+ALC-SUD; n = 13) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging during which they experienced an aversive interoceptive probe delivered via breathing load while simultaneously performing a cue reactivity paradigm. Participants also provided self-report ratings of how their substance use is positively or negatively reinforced. While experiencing the breathing load, CAN+ALC-SUD exhibited greater (p < 0.05) deactivation in the right amygdala, the left inferior frontal gyrus, and the left parahippocampal gyrus than CAN+ALC-EXP and CTL, who did not differ. Across all substance users, activation during the breathing load within the left parahippocampal gyrus negatively correlated with cannabis and alcohol lifetime use episodes and the left inferior frontal gyrus activity negatively correlated with lifetime alcohol use episodes. CAN+ALC-SUD reported experiencing more positive and negative reinforcement of using their substance of choice than CAN+ALC-EXP; both user groups reported higher levels of positive than negative reinforcement. Adolescents with a cannabis/alcohol use disorder demonstrate an altered response to interoceptive perturbations. However, adolescent cannabis/alcohol use does not appear to be driven by negative reinforcement, as viewing substance images did not dampen this response. Based on self-report data, the experience of positive reinforcement may be stronger for adolescents. Future studies should examine whether positive reinforcement contributes to adolescent substance use.

Resting state frontal alpha asymmetry predicts emotion regulation difficulties in impulse control

Failure in emotion regulation would cause barriers to individuals’ adaptive behavior, which negatively affect a human's happy and healthy life. Recent studies indicate that decreased activity of the left frontal cortex can be treated as a neural marker of emotion disorders. The present study examined how resting state frontal alpha asymmetry could predict emotion regulation difficulties and related dimensions by resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings, and a measure of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS). Eighty participants completed the resting state EEG recording and DERS ratings. Results revealed that after controlling for gender and depression scores, those participants with higher left frontal activity than the right frontal activity in the resting state have less difficulties in everyday emotion regulation, especially in the dimension of impulse control. However, there was no relation pattern with other dimensions of DERS. This study provided evidence that resting state frontal alpha asymmetry could predict emotion regulation difficulties, mainly in impulse control.