Resting Prefrontal Cortex Asymmetry and Communication Apprehension, Verbal Aggression, and Other Social Interaction Constructs: A Meta-Analytic Review

Abstract

A large corpus of neuroscience research suggests that resting levels of asymmetry in the anterior region of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) underlies the ability to self-regulate emotions and behaviors related to affective traits. Several studies have specifically linked resting asymmetry in the PFC to variables of interest to interpersonal communication scholars. These variables include verbal aggression, shyness and communication apprehension, social competence, sociability, perspective-taking, and interpersonal defensiveness. Meta-analysis of the studies examining resting asymmetry in the PFC and these other variables indicated that (a) an average sample-weighted (attenuated) correlation of .437 (average r = .447 when corrected for attenuation) and (b) all of the variance in r was attributable to sampling error.

Keywords:

• Asymmetry Anterior Cortex
• Electroencephalograph
• Interpersonal Communication
• Meta-Analysis
• PFC

Notes

Note. Superscripts denote sample composition: ^afemale adults, ^bmale adults, ^cmale and female adults, and ^dmale and female children. Subscripted corrected r denotes correction for dichotomization and attenuation. Asterisk denotes proxy reliability estimates.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michelle E. Pence

Michelle E. Pence (MA, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2007) is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication Studies at Louisiana State University.

Alan D. Heisel

Alan D. Heisel (EdD, West Virginia University, 2000) is an associate professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Amber Reinhart

Amber Reinhart (PhD, University of Buffalo, 2006) is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication at University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Yan Tian

Yan Tian (PhD, Temple University, 2004) is an associate professor in the Department of Communication at University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Michael J. Beatty

Michael J. Beatty (PhD, Ohio State University, 1976) is a professor in the School of Communication at the University of Miami.