Speech presentation cues moderate frontal EEG asymmetry in socially withdrawn young adults

Socially withdrawn individuals display solitary behavior across wide contexts with both unfamiliar and familiar peers. This tendency to withdraw may be driven by either past or anticipated negative social encounters. In addition, socially withdrawn individuals often exhibit right frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry at baseline and when under stress. In the current study we examined shifts in frontal EEG activity in young adults (N = 41) at baseline, as they viewed either an anxiety-provoking or a benign speech video, and as they subsequently prepared for their own speech. Results indicated that right frontal EEG activity increased, relative to the left, only for socially withdrawn participants exposed to the anxious video. These results suggest that contextual affective cues may prime an individual’s response to stress, particularly if they illustrate or substantiate an anticipated negative event.

► EEG was collected at baseline, while viewing a speech, and in speech preparation. ► The presented speech illustrated either negative or positive affect. ► Participants were assessed for high or low levels of social withdrawal (SW). ► Right frontal EEG asymmetry increased for SW participants shown the negative speech. ► EEG asymmetry may serve as a biomarker for sensitivity to environmental triggers.