Frontal Electroencephalogram Asymmetry and Temperament Across Infancy and Early Childhood: An Exploration of Stability and Bidirectional Relations

• Published in: Child development Vol. 87; no. 2; pp. 465 - 476
• Main Authors: Howarth, Grace Z., Fettig, Nicole B., Curby, Timothy W., Bell, Martha Ann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2016; Wiley for the Society for Research in Child Development
• Subjects: Activity level; Asymmetry; Bidirectionality; Child development; Child Development - physiology; Child, Preschool; Childhood; Children; EEG; Electroencephalography; EMPIRICAL ARTICLES; Exploration; Fear; Fear & phobias; Fear - physiology; Female; Frontal Lobe - physiology; Functional Laterality - physiology; Humans; Infancy; Infant; Infants; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Temperament; Temperament - physiology
• ISSN: 0009-3920; 1467-8624
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12466

The stability of frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry, temperamental activity level and fear, as well as bidirectional relations between asymmetry and temperament across the first 4 years of life, were examined in a sample of 183 children. Children participated in annual laboratory visits through 48 months, providing EEG and maternal report of temperament. EEG asymmetry showed moderate stability between 10 and 24 months. Analyses revealed that more left asymmetry predicted later activity level across the first 3 years. Conversely, asymmetry did not predict fear. Rather, fear at 36 months predicted more right asymmetry at 48 months. Results highlight the need for additional longitudinal research of infants and children to increase understanding of bidirectional relations between EEG and temperament in typically developing populations.