Frontal Alpha Asymmetry and Negative Mood: A Cross-Sectional Study in Older and Younger Adults

Frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) has been associated with emotional processing and affective psychopathology. Negative withdrawal stimuli behaviors have related to high levels of right cortical activity, while positive approach increased left activity. Inconsistent results in terms depressive anxious symptoms their relationship FAA previously observed, especially at older ages. Additionally, no studies date evaluated whether loneliness, a negative feeling, is FAA. Therefore, this study aimed (i) compare between younger adults (ii) investigate the possible relationships symptomatology young adults. Resting electroencephalogram recordings 39 (Mage = 70.51, SD 7.12) 57 22.54, 3.72) were analyzed. Results showed greater than activity for both groups higher was not predicted by or as shown regression analyses. Findings bring clarity about patterns different ages open discussion frontal imbalances,