THE FEAR SURVEY SCHEDULE AS A SENSITIVE MEASURE OF STRESS: EVIDENCE FROM ERPS

Abstract

Within the framework of the dual-anxiety model, electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings have argued that types of anxiety can be differentiated behaviorally, cognitively, and in brain laterality (Heller, et al, 1997). Additionally, one event-related potential (ERP) investigation found a left-lateralized N2 component associated with anxious apprehension (worry) and a right-lateralized P1r component associated with anxious arousal (fear/panic) (Dien, 1999). This study attempts to provide further support for the lateralization of these two types of anxiety. High-density ERPs were recorded from 58 participants who completed the STAI and FSS as measures of trait anxiety and stress. They also performed a spatial cueing task where emotional face cues were presented laterally followed by validly or invalidly cued shape targets. A temporo-spatial PCA revealed a right-lateralized posterior component (P296) that was greatest in amplitude for high on the FSS scores. This finding supports the idea that stress (anxious arousal) can be right lateralized.