Event-Related Alpha Oscillatory Response in Early Stage of Facial Expression Processing in Social Anxiety: Influence of Language Context

Abstract

Abstract Background Accurate interpretation of the emotional information conveyed by others’ facial expression is crucial for social interactions. The alpha oscillation response, which is an important event-related potential-based metric in studies of emotional information processing, to emotional facial processing in social anxiety is unclear. Method In this case-control study, participants viewed facial expressions (angry, happy, neutral) preceded by a contextual sentence conveying either positive or negative evaluations about the participant. Contextual influences were reflected in rating and occipital and frontal alpha oscillation measured by event-related potentials (ERP). Results With congruently emotional context and expression, occipital alpha oscillation power was significantly lower in social anxiety group than healthy control group. And in negative context, frontal alpha lateralization was significantly lower in social anxiety group than healthy control group. Conclusion Social anxiety individuals might invest more attention resources in the emotional context for facial expression processing.