Asymmetric frontal cortical activity and negative affective responses to ostracism

Abstract

Ostracism arouses negative affect. However, little is known about variables that influence the intensity of these negative affective responses. Two studies fill this void by incorporating work on approach- and withdrawal-related emotional states and their associated cortical activations. Study 1 found that following ostracism anger related directly to relative left frontal cortical activation. Study 2 used unilateral hand contractions to manipulate frontal cortical activity prior to an ostracizing event. Right-hand contractions, compared to left-hand contractions, caused greater relative left frontal cortical activation during the hand contractions as well as ostracism. Also, right-hand contractions caused more self-reported anger in response to being ostracized. Within-condition correlations revealed patterns of associations between ostracism-induced frontal asymmetry and emotive responses to ostracism consistent with Study 1. Taken together, these results suggest that asymmetrical frontal cortical activity is related to angry responses to ostracism, with greater relative left frontal cortical activity being associated with increased anger.

Fig. 1

Topographic map displaying correlations between relative left hemispheric activation during ostracism and anger in Study 1. The display is a left lateral head view. Areas in red and orange correlated directly with anger.

Fig. 2

Topographic map displaying correlations between relative left hemispheric activation during ostracism and anger within the right-hand contraction condition in Study 2. The display is a left lateral head view. Areas in red and orange correlated directly with anger.

Fig. 3

Topographic map displaying correlations between relative left hemispheric activation during ostracism and sadness within the left-hand contraction condition in Study 2. The display is a left lateral head view. Areas in blue correlated inversely with sadness.