Anger, coping, and frontal cortical activity: The effect of coping potential on anger-induced left frontal activity

Abstract

The present research tested whether relative left midfrontal cortical activity would be greater when individuals believed they could engage in behaviour to ameliorate an anger-inducing situation as compared to when they believed they could do nothing. The research also examined whether relative left midfrontal cortical activity would relate to behaviors aimed at ameliorating the anger-inducing situation, when individuals believed they could do something. To test these primary hypotheses, university students who were opposed to a tuition increase at their university were exposed to a pilot radio editorial that argued for increased tuition, and their electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, self-reported emotions, and behavioural responses were then collected. Prior to hearing the editorial, participants were led to believe that the tuition increase would definitely occur or that the tuition increase may occur and that petitions were being circulated to attempt to prevent it. Results supported the primary hypotheses and also revealed that relative left midfrontal activity was associated with anger in response to the editorial and that the effects were specific to the midfrontal cortical regions.