Thesis
Examining frontal asymmetry using functional near-infrared spectroscopy: the effects of social anxiety during interaction and performance tasks
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Mar 2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00010316
Abstract
Social anxiety is a common phenomenon, which at excessive levels is the core constituent of social anxiety disorder (SAD), a chronic and debilitating condition associated with significant distress and functional impairment. Preliminary research suggests the possibility of right-sided prefrontal activation. Although existing neuroimaging techniques preclude participants from engaging in ecologically valid social tasks during assessment, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a promising new technique that permits such assessment. The present study investigated the ecological utility of the fNIRS procedure and explored frontal asymmetry during in vivo social challenge tasks among female undergraduate students who scored in top and bottom percentiles on a social anxiety screening measure. Results revealed that participants in both groups experienced a significant increase in concentration of blood volume and oxygenated hemoglobin in the right hemisphere compared to the left hemisphere while giving a speech. Non-hemispheric effects were also observed. In addition, the high anxiety group showed a trend toward greater right frontal activity than the low anxiety group. This study highlights the utility of the fNIRS device in successfully assessing real-time changes in cerebrovascular response as a function of naturalistic social behavior, supports the potential utility of this technology in the study of the neurophysiology of social anxiety, and lends further support to the involvement of rightsided prefrontal activation in tasks that precipitate social anxiety.
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Details
- Title
- Examining frontal asymmetry using functional near-infrared spectroscopy
- Creators
- Lori-Ann M. Tuscan
- Contributors
- James D. Herbert (Advisor) - Drexel University, Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- vii, 42 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991021889074404721