Frontal EEG asymmetry in infants observing separation and comforting events: The role of infants’ attachment relationship

Abstract Fearful inhibition and impulsivity-anger significantly predict internalizing and externalizing problems, respectively. An important moderator that may affect these associations is frontal EEG asymmetry (FA). We examined how temperament and FA at 6 years interactively predicted behavioral problems at 9 years. A community sample of 186 children (93 boys, 93 girls) participated in the study. Results indicated that the effect of fearful inhibition on parent-reported internalizing problems increased as children exhibited greater right FA. The effect of impulsivity-anger on parent-reported externalizing problems increased as children showed greater left FA. Because FA was allowed to vary rather than children being dichotomized into membership in left FA and right FA groups, we observed that children’s FA contributed to the resilience process only when FA reached specific asymmetry levels. These findings highlight the importance of considering the different functions of FA in combination with specific dimensions of temperament in predicting children’s socioemotional outcomes. Clinical implications include providing suggestions for intervention services by demonstrating the role of FA in developing behavioral problems and inspiring research on whether it is possible to alter EEG activation and thus potentially improve developmental outcomes.

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The role of frontal EEG asymmetry in post-traumatic stress disorder

Biological Psychology ◽

10.1016/j.biopsycho.2015.03.018 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 108 ◽

pp. 62-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Thomas Meyer ◽

Tom Smeets ◽

Timo Giesbrecht ◽

Conny W.E.M. Quaedflieg ◽

Fren T.Y. Smulders ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Eeg Asymmetry ◽

Frontal Eeg Asymmetry ◽

Post Traumatic

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The role of frontal activation in the regulation and dysregulation of social behavior during the preschool years

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s0954579400006982 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 89-102 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

Nathan A. Fox ◽

Louis A. Schmidt ◽

Susan D. Calkins ◽

Kenneth H. Rubin ◽

Robert J. Coplan

Keyword(s):

Social Behavior ◽

Externalizing Problems ◽

Maladaptive Behavior ◽

Eeg Asymmetry ◽

Frontal Eeg Asymmetry ◽

Behavioral Style ◽

Preschool Period ◽

And Gender ◽

Electroencephalogram Eeg

AbstractWe examined whether the interaction of resting frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry and social behavior during peer play was related to the occurrence of maladaptive behavior in preschoolers. Two independent cohorts of children were observed interacting in same-age and -gender play quartets at 4 years of age. Each child was also seen individually for a psychophysiology session during which time measures of EEG activity were recorded. We found that highly sociable children who exhibited greater relative right frontal EEG asymmetry were more likely to exhibit externalizing problems than sociable children who exhibited greater relative left frontal EEG asymmetry. We also found that shy children who exhibited greater relative right frontal EEG asymmetry were more likely to exhibit internalizing problems than shy children who exhibited left frontal EEG asymmetry. These findings suggest that the pattern of frontal EEG asymmetry in combination with social behavioral style is a significant predictor of maladaptive behavior problems during the preschool period.

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