Sex-specific relationships between face memory and the N170 component in event-related potentials

Abstract At the group level, women consistently perform better in face memory tasks than men and also show earlier and larger N170 components of event-related brain potentials (ERP), considered to indicate perceptual structural encoding of faces. Here we investigated sex differences in the relationship between the N170 and face memory performance in 152 men and 141 women at group mean and individual differences levels. ERPs and performance were measured in separate tasks, avoiding statistical dependency between the two. We confirmed previous findings about superior face memory in women and a—sex-independent—negative relationship between N170 latency and face memory. However, whereas in men, better face memory was related to larger N170 components, face memory in women was unrelated with the amplitude or latency of the N170. These data provide solid evidence that individual differences in face memory within men are at least partially related to more intense structural face encoding.

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Electrophysiological responses to negative evaluative person-knowledge: Effects of individual differences

Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience ◽

10.3758/s13415-021-00894-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Claudia Krasowski ◽

Sebastian Schindler ◽

Maximilian Bruchmann ◽

Robert Moeck ◽

Thomas Straube

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Attentional Focus ◽

N170 Component ◽

Electrophysiological Responses ◽

Early Posterior Negativity ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Task Conditions ◽

Study Participants

AbstractFaces transmit rich information about a unique personal identity. Recent studies examined how negative evaluative information affects event-related potentials (ERPs), the relevance of individual differences, such as trait anxiety, neuroticism, or agreeableness, for these effects is unclear. In this preregistered study, participants (N = 80) were presented with neutral faces, either associated with highly negative or neutral biographical information. Faces were shown under three different task conditions that varied the attentional focus on face-unrelated features, perceptual face information, or emotional information. Results showed a task-independent increase of the N170 component for faces associated with negative information, while interactions occurred for the Early Posterior Negativity (EPN) and the Late Positive Potential (LPP), showing ERP differences only when paying attention to the evaluative information. Trait anxiety and neuroticism did not influence ERP differences. Low agreeableness increased EPN differences during perceptual distraction. Thus, we observed that low agreeableness leads to early increased processing of potentially hostile faces, although participants were required to attend to a face-unrelated feature.

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Individual Differences in Asymmetric Resting-State Frontal Cortical Activity Modulate ERPs and Performance in a Global-Local Attention Task

Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1027/0269-8803/a000067 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 51-62 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Maarten A. S. Boksem ◽

Evelien Kostermans ◽

Mattie Tops ◽

David De Cremer

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Resting State ◽

Visual Information ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Self Report ◽

Approach Motivation ◽

Attention Task ◽

State Measurement ◽

Related Potentials ◽

And Performance

Recent research has demonstrated that individual differences in approach motivation modulate attentional scope. In turn, approach and inhibition have been related to different neural systems that are associated with asymmetries in relative frontal activity (RFA). Here, we investigated whether such individual differences in asymmetric hemispheric activity during rest, and self-report measures of approach motivation (as measured by the behavioral inhibition system, BIS/behavioral activation system, BAS scales) would be predictive of the efficiency of attentional processing of global and local visual information, as indexed by event-related potentials (ERPs) and performance measures. In the reported experiment, participants performed a visual attention task in which they were required to either attend to the global shape or the local components of presented stimuli. Electroencephalogram was recorded during task performance and during an initial “resting state” measurement. The results showed that only the BAS-Reward Responsiveness subscale was associated with left RFA during rest, while BIS, BAS-Drive, and BAS-Fun Seeking were associated with more right-lateralized RFA. Importantly, left RFA during the “resting state” measurement was associated with increased P3 (right-lateralized) amplitudes and decreased P3 latencies on trials requiring a global focus. In turn, these ERPs were associated with enhanced performance on trials requiring a global focus. These results provide the first evidence for a positive association between left RFA during rest and increased efficiency of right-lateralized brain mechanisms that are involved in processing global information.

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Individual differences in empathic processing: An event-related potentials study

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e627312013-001 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Evonne M. Edwards ◽

John K. Williams ◽

Todd W. Hall ◽

Keith J. Edwards

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Related Potentials

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Individual differences predict ERP signatures of second language learning of novel grammatical rules

10.31234/osf.io/ea58h ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Emily S Nichols ◽

Marc F Joanisse

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Individual Differences ◽

Language Learning ◽

First Language ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Grammatical Gender ◽

Grammatical Rule ◽

Related Potentials ◽

And Gender ◽

Anterior Negativity

We investigated the extent to which second-language (L2) learning is influenced by the similarity of grammatical features in one’s first language (L1). We used event-related potentials to identify neural signatures of a novel grammatical rule - grammatical gender - in L1 English speakers. Of interest was whether individual differences in L2 proficiency and age of acquisition (AoA) influenced these effects. L2 and native speakers of French read French sentences that were grammatically correct, or contained either a grammatical gender or word order violation. Proficiency and AoA predicted Left Anterior Negativity amplitude, with structure violations driving the proficiency effect and gender violations driving the AoA effect. Proficiency, group, and AoA predicted P600 amplitude for gender violations but not structure violations. Different effects of grammatical gender and structure violations indicate that L2 speakers engage novel grammatical processes differently from L1 speakers and that this varies appreciably based on both AoA and proficiency.

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Effects of control strategy on the activation of unwanted intrusive thoughts

10.31234/osf.io/rb24j ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sicong Liu ◽

Jonathan Folstein ◽

Lawrence Gregory Appelbaum ◽

Gershon Tenenbaum

Keyword(s):

Control Strategies ◽

Working Memory Capacity ◽

Intrusive Thoughts ◽

Control Process ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Human Beings ◽

Opposite Pattern ◽

Thought Control ◽

Related Potentials ◽

And Performance

Although the unwanted intrusive thoughts (UITs) exist widely in human beings and show similar characteristics between clinical and nonclinical forms, its control process remains unclear. Thoughts of choking under pressure, particularly among high-achieving athletes, represent a meaningful UIT type due to their psychological and performance-related impact. Taking a dynamic view of UIT control process, this study tested the effect of thought-control strategies among sub-elite to elite athletes, applied to individualized choking thoughts. Ninety athletes recollected recent athletic choking experiences prior to being randomized into one of three thought control interventions using strategies of either acceptance, passive monitoring (control), or suppression. To control for individual differences, athletes’ working memory capacity was measured and modeled as a covariate at baseline. The activation of choking thoughts during and after the intervention was gauged through multiple measurement approaches including conscious presence in mind, priming, and event-related potentials (P3b and N400 amplitudes). Results indicated that, relative to the control, suppression led to enhanced priming and reduced conscious presence of choking thoughts, whereas acceptance resulted in an opposite pattern of reduced priming and increased conscious presence of choking thoughts. In addition, thought-related stimuli elicited less negative-going N400 amplitudes and more positive-going P3b amplitudes than control stimuli. These findings advance understandings of the control mechanism underpinning UITs, and generate applied implications regarding UIT control in high-risk populations such as those with athletic expertise.

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Expectancy of Stress-Reducing Aromatherapy Effect and Performance on a Stress-Sensitive Cognitive Task

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2015/419812 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Irina Chamine ◽

Barry S. Oken

Keyword(s):

Task Performance ◽

Stress Reduction ◽

Cognitive Task ◽

Reaction Times ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Specific Effects ◽

N200 Amplitude ◽

Related Potentials ◽

And Performance

Objective. Stress-reducing therapies help maintain cognitive performance during stress. Aromatherapy is popular for stress reduction, but its effectiveness and mechanism are unclear. This study examined stress-reducing effects of aromatherapy on cognitive function using the go/no-go (GNG) task performance and event related potentials (ERP) components sensitive to stress. The study also assessed the importance of expectancy in aromatherapy actions.Methods. 81 adults were randomized to 3 aroma groups (active experimental, detectable, and undetectable placebo) and 2 prime subgroups (prime suggesting stress-reducing aroma effects or no-prime). GNG performance, ERPs, subjective expected aroma effects, and stress ratings were assessed at baseline and poststress.Results. No specific aroma effects on stress or cognition were observed. However, regardless of experienced aroma, people receiving a prime displayed faster poststress median reaction times than those receiving no prime. A significant interaction for N200 amplitude indicated divergent ERP patterns between baseline and poststress for go and no-go stimuli depending on the prime subgroup. Furthermore, trends for beneficial prime effects were shown on poststress no-go N200/P300 latencies and N200 amplitude.Conclusion. While there were no aroma-specific effects on stress or cognition, these results highlight the role of expectancy for poststress response inhibition and attention.

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Brain Responses to World Knowledge Violations: A Comparison of Stimulus- and Fixation-triggered Event-related Potentials and Neural Oscillations

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_00731 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 1017-1028 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Paul Metzner ◽

Titus von der Malsburg ◽

Shravan Vasishth ◽

Frank Rösler

Keyword(s):

Word Meaning ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Visual Presentation ◽

World Knowledge ◽

N400 Effect ◽

Brain Potentials ◽

Time Frequency ◽

Gamma Range ◽

Brain Responses ◽

Related Potentials

Recent research has shown that brain potentials time-locked to fixations in natural reading can be similar to brain potentials recorded during rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP). We attempted two replications of Hagoort, Hald, Bastiaansen, and Petersson [Hagoort, P., Hald, L., Bastiaansen, M., & Petersson, K. M. Integration of word meaning and world knowledge in language comprehension. Science, 304, 438–441, 2004] to determine whether this correspondence also holds for oscillatory brain responses. Hagoort et al. reported an N400 effect and synchronization in the theta and gamma range following world knowledge violations. Our first experiment (n = 32) used RSVP and replicated both the N400 effect in the ERPs and the power increase in the theta range in the time–frequency domain. In the second experiment (n = 49), participants read the same materials freely while their eye movements and their EEG were monitored. First fixation durations, gaze durations, and regression rates were increased, and the ERP showed an N400 effect. An analysis of time–frequency representations showed synchronization in the delta range (1–3 Hz) and desynchronization in the upper alpha range (11–13 Hz) but no theta or gamma effects. The results suggest that oscillatory EEG changes elicited by world knowledge violations are different in natural reading and RSVP. This may reflect differences in how representations are constructed and retrieved from memory in the two presentation modes.

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Characterizing pinprick-evoked brain potentials before and after experimentally induced secondary hyperalgesia

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00444.2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 114 (5) ◽

pp. 2672-2681 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Emanuel N. van den Broeke ◽

André Mouraux ◽

Antonia H. Groneberg ◽

Doreen B. Pfau ◽

Rolf-Detlef Treede ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Event Related Potentials ◽

Stimulus Onset ◽

Secondary Hyperalgesia ◽

Brain Potentials ◽

Nociceptive Pathways ◽

Before And After ◽

Pain Ratings ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Positive Complex ◽

Stimulation Of

Secondary hyperalgesia is believed to be a key feature of “central sensitization” and is characterized by enhanced pain to mechanical nociceptive stimuli. The aim of the present study was to characterize, using EEG, the effects of pinprick stimulation intensity on the magnitude of pinprick-elicited brain potentials [event-related potentials (ERPs)] before and after secondary hyperalgesia induced by intradermal capsaicin in humans. Pinprick-elicited ERPs and pinprick-evoked pain ratings were recorded in 19 healthy volunteers, with mechanical pinprick stimuli of varying intensities (0.25-mm probe applied with a force extending between 16 and 512 mN). The recordings were performed before (T0) and 30 min after (T1) intradermal capsaicin injection. The contralateral noninjected arm served as control. ERPs elicited by stimulation of untreated skin were characterized by 1) an early-latency negative-positive complex peaking between 120 and 250 ms after stimulus onset (N120-P240) and maximal at the vertex and 2) a long-lasting positive wave peaking 400–600 ms after stimulus onset and maximal more posterior (P500), which was correlated to perceived pinprick pain. After capsaicin injection, pinprick stimuli were perceived as more intense in the area of secondary hyperalgesia and this effect was stronger for lower compared with higher stimulus intensities. In addition, there was an enhancement of the P500 elicited by stimuli of intermediate intensity, which was significant for 64 mN. The other components of the ERPs were unaffected by capsaicin. Our results suggest that the increase in P500 magnitude after capsaicin is mediated by facilitated mechanical nociceptive pathways.

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Syntactically Based Sentence Processing Classes: Evidence from Event-Related Brain Potentials

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn.1991.3.2.151 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 151-165 ◽

Cited By ~ 498

Author(s):

Helen Neville ◽

Janet L. Nicol ◽

Andrew Barss ◽

Kenneth I. Forster ◽

Merrill F. Garrett

Keyword(s):

Left Hemisphere ◽

Sentence Processing ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Phrase Structure ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Negative Potential ◽

Developmental Studies ◽

Brain Potentials ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Theoretical Considerations

Theoretical considerations and diverse empirical data from clinical, psycholinguistic, and developmental studies suggest that language comprehension processes are decomposable into separate subsystems, including distinct systems for semantic and grammatical processing. Here we report that event-related potentials (ERPs) to syntactically well-formed but semantically anomalous sentences produced a pattern of brain activity that is distinct in timing and distribution from the patterns elicited by syntactically deviant sentences, and further, that different types of syntactic deviance produced distinct ERP patterns. Forty right-handed young adults read sentences presented at 2 words/sec while ERPs were recorded from over several positions between and within the hemispheres. Half of the sentences were semantically and grammatically acceptable and were controls for the remainder, which contained sentence medial words that violated (1) semantic expectations, (2) phrase structure rules, or (3) WH-movement constraints on Specificity and (4) Subjacency. As in prior research, the semantic anomalies produced a negative potential, N400, that was bilaterally distributed and was largest over posterior regions. The phrase structure violations enhanced the N125 response over anterior regions of the left hemisphere, and elicited a negative response (300-500 msec) over temporal and parietal regions of the left hemisphere. Violations of Specificity constraints produced a slow negative potential, evident by 125 msec, that was also largest over anterior regions of the left hemisphere. Violations of Subjacency constraints elicited a broadly and symmetrically distributed positivity that onset around 200 msec. The distinct timing and distribution of these effects provide biological support for theories that distinguish between these types of grammatical rules and constraints and more generally for the proposal that semantic and grammatical processes are distinct subsystems within the language faculty.

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