Resting frontal brain asymmetry predicts affective responses tofilms

This article assessed whether esting electroenchephalographic (EEG) asymmetry inanterior e-gions of the brain can predict affective responses to emotion elicitors. Baseline EEG was recorded from 32 female adults, after which Ss viewed film clips preselected toelicit positive or negative affect. Resting alpha power asymmetry in the frontal region significantly predicted self-reported global negative affect in response to clips and predicted the difference between global positive and negative affect. Analyses of discrete motions revealed a strong relation between frontal asym-metry and fear responses to films. Effects were independent ofSs ' mood ratings at the time at which baseline EEG was measured. Resting anterior asymmetry may be a state-independent index of the individual's predisposition to respond affectively. Differences in the nature, probability, or intensity of affective responses to emotion elicitors are key features of individual differences in temperament (e.g, Buss & Plomin, 1975; Gold-smith & Campos, 1986). Thus, one critical test of a potential biological marker of such individual differences i whether it predicts variations in responsivity to affective stimuli (e.g, Da