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

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.

► We examined differences in emotion processing in early attachment-related Event-Related Potentials (ERPs).
► ERPs elicited on trials with angry and neutral faces were compared across groups with secure, anxious and avoidant attachment orientations.
► C1 and P1 mean amplitudes in response to angry compared with neutral faces differed only within the avoidant attachment group.
► Avoidant rather than anxious individuals may have a processing bias towards emotional faces at early perceptual level.