Relative electroencephalographic desynchronization and synchronization in humans to emotional film content: an analysis of the 4-6, 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12 Hz frequency bands

Neurosci Lett. 2000 May 26;286(1):9-12. doi: 10.1016/s0304-3940(00)01092-2.

Abstract

The reactivity of different narrow electroencephalographic (EEG) frequencies (4-6, 6-8, 8-10 and 10-12 Hz) to three types of emotionally laden film clips (aggressive, sad, neutral) were examined. We observed that different EEG frequency bands responded differently to the three types of film content. In the 4-6 Hz frequency band, the viewing of aggressive film content elicited greater relative synchronization as compared the responses elicited by the viewing of sad and neutral film content. The 6-8 Hz and 8-10 Hz frequency bands exhibited reactivity to the chronological succession of film viewing whereas the responses of the 10-12 Hz frequency band evolved within minutes during film viewing. Our results propose dissociations between the responses of different frequencies within the EEG to different emotion-related stimuli. Narrow frequency band EEG analysis offers an adequate tool for studying cortical activation patterns during emotion-related information processing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aggression / physiology
  • Aggression / psychology
  • Cerebral Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology
  • Cortical Synchronization*
  • Emotions / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Motion Pictures
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Time Factors