Individual differences in resting asymmetrical frontal
brain activity have been found to predict subsequent emotional
responses. The question of whether frontal brain asymmetry
can cause emotional responses has yet to be addressed.
Biofeedback training designed to alter the asymmetry of
frontal brain activity was therefore examined. Eighteen
right-handed female participants were randomly assigned
to receive biofeedback training designed to increase right
frontal alpha relative to left frontal alpha (n
= 9) or to receive training in the opposite direction (n
= 9). Five consecutive days of biofeedback training provided
signals of reward or nonreward depending on whether the
difference between right (F4) and left (F3) frontal alpha
exceeded a criterion value in the specified direction.
Systematic alterations of frontal EEG asymmetry were observed
as a function of biofeedback training. Moreover, subsequent
self-reported affect and facial muscle activity in response
to emotionally evocative film clips were influenced by
the direction of biofeedback training.