Frontal Alpha Asymmetry as a Marker of Approach Motivation? Insights From a Cooperative Forking Path Analysis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Katharina Paul - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • André Beauducel - , University of Bonn (Author)
  • Jürgen Hennig - , Justus Liebig University Giessen (Author)
  • Johannes Hewig - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Andrea Hildebrandt - , University of Oldenburg (Author)
  • Corinna Kührt - , Chair of Engineering Psychology and Applied Cognitive Research (Author)
  • Leon Lange - , University Osnabruck (Author)
  • Erik Malte Mueller - , University of Marburg (Author)
  • Roman Osinsky - , University Osnabruck (Author)
  • Elisa Porth - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Anja Riesel - , University of Hamburg (Author)
  • Johannes Rodrigues - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • Christoph Scheffel - , Chair of Differential and Personality Psychology (Author)
  • Cassie Ann Short - , University of Hamburg, University of Oldenburg (Author)
  • Jutta Stahl - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Alexander Strobel - , Chair of Differential and Personality Psychology (Author)
  • Jan Wacker - , University of Hamburg (Author)

Abstract

Frontal alpha asymmetry has been proposed as a ubiquitous marker of state and trait approach motivation, but recent meta-analyses found weak or nonexistent links with personality traits. It has been suggested that frontal asymmetry may show stronger individual differences in situations that elicit approach motivation (state–trait interaction). To investigate this with sufficient statistical power, we utilized data from the CoScience project (N = 740). Frontal asymmetry was measured during a resting period, a picture viewing task, and a guessing task, which were expected to trigger different levels of approach motivation. Results showed that frontal asymmetry was not reliably affected by task manipulations and did not relate to self-reported traits. Furthermore, Bayesian statistics and a cooperative forking path analysis were used to supplement the preregistered analyses. To conclude, this comprehensive analysis could not support the validity of frontal asymmetry as a marker of approach motivation, neither as a reliable state nor as a trait marker.

Details

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of personality and social psychology
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Keywords

  • approach motivation, behavioral activation system, cooperative forking path analysis, frontal alpha asymmetry, personality