Asymmetric EEG changes as method actors generated emotions.

Nine method actors recalled personal experiences to create emotional states of sexual arousal or depression. Electroencephalographic (EEG) data recorded from left and right frontal, central, parietal and occipital locations were spectrally analyzed for power in each major frequency band and for coherence among all pairs of channels. Contrasts between the emotion conditions showed less alpha power (greater activation) over the right hemisphere for sexual arousal than for depression. Analysis of coherence topography showed higher coherence in right central and posterior regions during the sexual arousal condition. These data are consistent with previous evidence of right hemisphere contribution to sexual arousal and suggest further that asymmetric patterns of brain activity may be associated with specific emotional states.