State anger and prefrontal brain activity: Evidence that insult-related relative left-prefrontal activation is associated with experienced anger and aggression.

• DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.80.5.797
• Publication Date: 2005-10-04T18:11:13Z
• Authors: Eddie Harmon-Jones; Jonathan Sigelman
• Keywords: Affect

Research has demonstrated that left-prefrontal cortical activity is associated with positive affect, or approach motivation, and right-prefrontal negative withdrawal motivation. In past research, emotional valence (positive-negative) been confounded motivational direction (approach-withdrawal), such that, for instance, the only emotions examined were both related. Recent research trait anger, a but approach-related emotion, increased decreased activity, suggesting prefrontal asymmetrical not valence. The present experiment tested whether state-induced anger relative this also aggression. Results supported these hypotheses.