Texas A&M University LibrariesTexas A&M University LibrariesTexas A&M University Libraries
    • Help
    • Login
    OAKTrust
    View Item 
    •   OAKTrust Home
    • Colleges and Schools
    • Office of Graduate and Professional Studies
    • Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Records of Study (2002– )
    • View Item
    •   OAKTrust Home
    • Colleges and Schools
    • Office of Graduate and Professional Studies
    • Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Records of Study (2002– )
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Examining Associations between Emotional Facial Expressions, Relative Left Frontal Cortical Activity, and Task Persistence

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    PRICE-DISSERTATION.pdf (707.0Kb)
    Date
    2012-10-19
    Author
    Price, Thomas
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Past research associated relative left frontal cortical activity with approach motivation, or the inclination to move toward a stimulus, as well as positive affect. Work with anger, a negative emotion often high in approach, helped clarify the role of relative left frontal cortical activity. Less work, however, examined positive emotional states varying in approach motivation and relative left frontal cortical activity. In the present research, it was predicted that positive facial expressions varying in degrees of approach motivation would influence relative left frontal cortical activity measured with electroencephalography (EEG) alpha power and task persistence measured with time working on insolvable geometric puzzles. Furthermore, relative left frontal cortical activity should positively relate to task persistence. In support of these predictions, determination compared to satisfaction facial expressions caused greater relative left frontal activity measured with EEG alpha power, a neural correlate of approach motivation. This effect remained when accounting for the contribution of muscle activity in the EEG signal, subjective task difficulty, and the extent to which participants made facial expressions. Determination compared to neutral facial expressions also caused greater self-reported interest following the puzzle task. Facial expressions did not directly influence task persistence. However, relative left frontal cortical activity was positively correlated with total time working on insolvable puzzles in the determination condition only. These results extend embodiment theories and motivational models of asymmetric frontal cortical activity.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2012-08-11609
    Subject
    Motivation
    Relative left frontal cortical activity
    Embodiment
    Collections
    • Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Records of Study (2002– )
    Citation
    Price, Thomas (2012). Examining Associations between Emotional Facial Expressions, Relative Left Frontal Cortical Activity, and Task Persistence. Doctoral dissertation, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from http : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /ETD -TAMU -2012 -08 -11609.

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016  DuraSpace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV
     

     

    Advanced Search

    Browse

    All of OAKTrustCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDepartmentThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsDepartment

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics
    Help and Documentation

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016  DuraSpace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV