Alpha frontal asymmetry underlies individual differences in reactivity to acute psychosocial stress in males

People vary in their responses to stress. The present study aimed to investigate whether and how alpha frontal asymmetry (AFA) measured in the resting state underlies the individual differences in psychological responses to acute psychosocial stress (e.g., increases in heart rate and cortisol) induced by the Trier social stress test. Forty-three healthy male adults were enrolled in this study. The results showed that the AFA score negatively predicted both heart rate and cortisol responses, that is relatively higher right-frontal activity during the resting state was related to a stronger physiological stress response. These results indicated that higher withdrawal motivation or effortful control is associated with a higher physiological stress response, which suggested that AFA in the resting state can serve as a biological predictor of acute stress responses in men.