Resting Frontal EEG Asymmetry and Personality Traits: A Meta‐analysis. Issue 2 (1st April 2019)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Resting Frontal EEG Asymmetry and Personality Traits: A Meta‐analysis. Issue 2 (1st April 2019)
- Main Title:
- Resting Frontal EEG Asymmetry and Personality Traits: A Meta‐analysis
- Authors:
- Kuper, Niclas
Käckenmester, Wiebke
Wacker, Jan - Editors:
- Fajkowska, Małgorzata
- Abstract:
- Abstract: Frontal asymmetry has been widely used as a marker of emotion, motivation, and psychopathology. When assessed during the resting state, it is regarded as an index of trait approach and withdrawal motivation. However, the replicability of these associations with personality is currently unclear. The present meta‐analysis seeks to provide a comprehensive quantitative review of the relationship between personality traits and resting electroencephalographic (EEG) frontal asymmetry. We distinguished five personality clusters: extraversion, neuroticism, impulsivity, anger, and defensiveness. Data from 79 independent samples with overall 5700 participants were included in the meta‐analysis. The results revealed that less than 0.4% of the variance in extraversion and neuroticism could be explained by resting frontal asymmetry. Similarly, a small effect was observed for trait anger, and a small‐sized to medium‐sized effect was observed for defensiveness, although the number of studies was very low. No significant effect emerged for impulsivity. The effects were further reduced after adjustment for publication bias. Given some evidence for heterogeneity, sub‐traits were analysed, and methodological moderators were investigated. Based on the results, we conclude that the validity of resting frontal asymmetry as a marker for personality is not supported. Finally, recommendations are given to increase the replicability of frontal asymmetry research. © 2019 European AssociationAbstract: Frontal asymmetry has been widely used as a marker of emotion, motivation, and psychopathology. When assessed during the resting state, it is regarded as an index of trait approach and withdrawal motivation. However, the replicability of these associations with personality is currently unclear. The present meta‐analysis seeks to provide a comprehensive quantitative review of the relationship between personality traits and resting electroencephalographic (EEG) frontal asymmetry. We distinguished five personality clusters: extraversion, neuroticism, impulsivity, anger, and defensiveness. Data from 79 independent samples with overall 5700 participants were included in the meta‐analysis. The results revealed that less than 0.4% of the variance in extraversion and neuroticism could be explained by resting frontal asymmetry. Similarly, a small effect was observed for trait anger, and a small‐sized to medium‐sized effect was observed for defensiveness, although the number of studies was very low. No significant effect emerged for impulsivity. The effects were further reduced after adjustment for publication bias. Given some evidence for heterogeneity, sub‐traits were analysed, and methodological moderators were investigated. Based on the results, we conclude that the validity of resting frontal asymmetry as a marker for personality is not supported. Finally, recommendations are given to increase the replicability of frontal asymmetry research. © 2019 European Association of Personality Psychology … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- European journal of personality. Volume 33:Issue 2(2019)
- Journal:
- European journal of personality
- Issue:
- Volume 33:Issue 2(2019)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 33, Issue 2 (2019)
- Year:
- 2019
- Volume:
- 33
- Issue:
- 2
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2019-0033-0002-0000
- Page Start:
- 154
- Page End:
- 175
- Publication Date:
- 2019-04-01
- Subjects:
- personality traits -- EEG -- frontal asymmetry -- meta‐analysis -- resting state
Personality -- Periodicals
155.2 - Journal URLs:
- https://journals.sagepub.com/loi/ERP ↗
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1002/per.2197 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0890-2070
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 3829.733800
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 10467.xml