Frontal brain asymmetry and transient cardiovascular responses to the perception of humor

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe study examined the relationship of individual differences in prefrontal brain asymmetry, measured by the EEG in resting conditions, to the individual's responsivity in the context of humor (n = 42). Several weeks after the EEG recording, immediate cardiovascular responses to the perception of humor and behavioral indicators of humor processing were obtained in an experimental paradigm involving nonverbal cartoons. Relatively greater resting activity in the left than right prefrontal cortex, particularly at the ventrolateral positions, was associated with faster detection of humor, a more pronounced cardiac response to the perception of humor (heart rate and cardiac output), and more accessible internal positive affective states (indicated by faster reports of amusement levels). The study confirms and extends findings of the relevance of prefrontal brain asymmetry to affective responsivity, contributing evidence in the domain of positive affect and humor, and demonstrating relationships to the immediate cardiovascular response pattern to an emotional event.

The capacity for generating cognitive reappraisals is reflected in asymmetric activation of frontal brain regions

“…While in EEG alpha asymmetry research, effects of cognitive reappraisal have not yet been specifically examined, the present study adds to the evidence supporting the importance of hemispheric differences in the context of coping with negative events (Blackhart and Kline 2005; Davidson 2004a; Jackson et al 2003; Nusslock et al 2011). Moreover, the findings may be related to previous evidence suggesting an association between left-lateralized prefrontal EEG alpha asymmetry, in particular at the ventrolateral prefrontal electrodes, and affective flexibility (Papousek et al 2012, 2013b, 2014), which implies the selection of appropriate and the inhibition of inappropriate processes (Thayer and Friedman 2002). Finally, the present results are nicely in line with the proposition of Johnstone et al (2007) that the absence of left-lateralized activation in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and concurrent enhanced activation in right prefrontal cortex, which were observed in depressed patients during reappraisal efforts, reflect an inefficient engagement of prefrontal regulatory circuitry.…”

“…In EEG studies, this asymmetry ratio is equivalent to another common metric (lnR - lnL), with which it is virtually perfectly correlated (Davidson 1988; Papousek and Schulter 2002). However, LC allows easier comparison of data from different studies, different frequency bands, and locations (Pivik et al 1993), and has been used in numerous EEG studies in relevant research contexts (e.g., Papousek et al 2011, 2012, 2013a, b, 2014; Papousek and Schulter 2004). Following the common approach in EEG alpha asymmetry research, we interpret relatively lower alpha power in one hemisphere than the other as relatively greater cortical activity in this hemisphere (see, Allen et al 2004 for a review of evidence and Harmon-Jones 2006; Michels et al 2010; Scheeringa et al 2011 for recent experimental research supporting the assumption that EEG alpha band activity obtained in time frames of several seconds or minutes is inversely related to cortical activity).…”

Reappraisal inventiveness: impact of appropriate brain activation during efforts to generate alternative appraisals on the perception of chronic stress in women

“…This asymmetry ratio is equivalent to another common metric (ln R – ln L ), with which it is virtually perfectly correlated (Davidson, 1988 ; Papousek & Schulter, 2002 ). However, LC allows easier comparison of data from different studies, different frequency bands, and locations (Pivik et al., 1993 ), and has been used in numerous EEG studies in relevant research contexts (e.g., Papousek et al., 2011 , 2014 ; Papousek, Reiser, et al., 2013 ; Papousek, Reiser, Weber, Freudenthaler, & Schulter, 2012 ; Papousek & Schulter, 2004 ; Papousek, Schulter, et al., 2013 ). Positive values of LC indicate relatively greater left than right hemisphere cortical activity (inverse of alpha).…”

Temperamental Contributions to the Development of Psychological Profiles: II. Two Candidates

“…The left frontal lobe is usually, but not always, more active than the right (less alpha power on the left) when individuals are relaxed; whereas the right hemisphere is more active than the left when individuals are in a state of uncertainty, tension, or unpleasant emotional arousal (Cole, Zapp, Katherine, & Perez-Edgar, 2012;Davidson, 2003;Fox, 1994;Hewig, Scholtz, Gerhards, Breitenstein, Lurken,& Naumann, 2008;Papousek, Schulter, Weiss, Samson, Freudenthaler, & Lackner, 2012;Schmidt, 2008;Tullett, Harmon-Jones, & Inzlicht, 2012). Children and adults who show right frontal activation are a little more likely to develop dysphoria and/or anxiety than those with left frontal activation who show the complementary pattern of a relaxed, happier mood (Schmidt & Fox, 1994;Schmidt, 2008).…”