The role of attention in the generation of anticipatory potentials to affective stimuli: an ERP and source analysis study

Ester Benzaquén; Timothy D Griffiths; Sukhbinder Kumar

doi:10.1093/cercor/bhaf324

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The role of attention in the generation of anticipatory potentials to affective stimuli: an ERP and source analysis study

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The role of attention in the generation of anticipatory potentials to affective stimuli: an ERP and source analysis study

Ester Benzaquén, Timothy D Griffiths and Sukhbinder Kumar

Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. 1991), Vol.36(1), bhaf324

01/06/2026

DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaf324

PMID: 41592084

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Abstract

Anticipatory EEG signals are characterized by the occurrence of negative slow cortical potentials. This negativity is posed to be enhanced when expecting highly emotional stimuli; however, the specific role attention plays in its generation is unclear, as emotional content is more salient and arousing, and thus recruits higher attentional resources. Here, affective anticipation signals were recorded in 35 participants with EEG, and their brain sources elucidated using multiple sparse priors algorithm. Using a cued-paradigm, the category of a sound being negatively valenced or neutral could be predicted with a 68.2% accuracy. To shift attentional resources away from the emotional content, participants were instructed to listen and respond to a burst of white noise that occurred on 9.1% of trials. Results showed slower reaction times following the aversive cue, yet no difference in EEG amplitude between aversive and neutral anticipation. Response times positively correlated with EEG amplitude-participants with stronger negativity were faster to respond. EEG source reconstruction demonstrated no differences between conditions, and showed activation of areas within the salience network including insula, somatosensory cortex, and thalamus. The current results suggest that anticipatory EEG negativity is an index of attentional resource-allocation during the anticipation period and does not reflect the emotional content of upcoming stimuli.

Electroencephalography

Acoustic Stimulation

Adult

Affect - physiology

Anticipation, Psychological - physiology

Attention - physiology

Brain - physiology

Brain Mapping

Cues

Emotions - physiology

Evoked Potentials - physiology

Female

Humans

Male

Reaction Time - physiology

Young Adult

Details

Title: Subtitle: The role of attention in the generation of anticipatory potentials to affective stimuli: an ERP and source analysis study
Creators: Ester Benzaquén - Newcastle University
Timothy D Griffiths - Newcastle University
Sukhbinder Kumar - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. 1991), Vol.36(1), bhaf324
DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaf324
PMID: 41592084
ISSN: 1047-3211
eISSN: 1460-2199
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Grant note: Newcastle University
Language: English
Date published: 01/06/2026
Academic Unit: Neurosurgery
Record Identifier: 9985132207002771

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