Adult attachment and emotional processing biases: An Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) study

Orrie Dan, Sivan Raz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Attachment-related electrophysiological differences in emotional processing biases were examined using Event-Related Potentials (ERPs). We identified ERP correlates of emotional processing by comparing ERPs elicited in trials with angry and neutral faces. These emotional expression effects were then compared across groups with secure, anxious and avoidant attachment orientations. Results revealed significant interactions between attachment orientation and facial expression in mean amplitudes of the early C1 (50-80. ms post-stimulus) and P1 (80-120. ms post-stimulus) ERP components. Significant differences in C1 and P1 mean amplitudes were found at occipital and posterior-parietal channels in response to angry compared with neutral faces only within the avoidant attachment group. No such differences were found within the secure or anxious attachment groups. The present study underscores the usefulness of the ERP methodology, as a sensitive measure for the study of emotional processing biases in the research field of attachment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)212-220
Number of pages9
JournalBiological Psychology
Volume91
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adult attachment
  • Emotional processing bias
  • Event-Related Potentials (ERPs)
  • Facial expressions

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

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