Frontal Alpha Asymmetry before and after mental effort: The moderating role of trait neuroticism

This study examined whether frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) - an electroencephalographic marker typically linked to approach and withdrawal motivation - adapts in response to mental effort and whether individual variations in neuroticism influence both baseline FAA and FAA changes following mental effort. Participants (N = 110) completed baseline resting EEG recordings, and then engaged in a cognitively demanding task, followed by a post-task resting EEG session. Neuroticism was measured using the Big Five Inventory (BFI-K). Overall, our results showed that FAA did not change significantly for the entire sample following mental effort, and baseline FAA was not associated with neuroticism. However, individuals scoring higher in neuroticism showed a shift toward right-frontal activation after the task, possibly indicating heightened withdrawal-related affect in response to mental effort. These findings highlight how personality traits - particularly neuroticism - can shape an individual’s electrophysiological responses to cognitive demands. The results contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how personality might interact with situational factors in modulating FAA.