Trait anger and the reward positivity

Although research shows that affect and motivation-related variables influence the amplitude of the Reward Positivity (RewP) event-related potential (ERP), motivational direction (approach versus avoidance) and affective valence (positive versus negative) have been confounded. As a negatively valenced yet approach motivation-related emotion, anger can be used to tease apart motivational direction versus affective valence contributions to the RewP amplitude. The present study examined the relation between trait anger and RewP. Participants were 98 young adult student volunteers who completed the Doors reward task and self-report questionnaires. Their asymmetric frontal cortical activity during resting baseline was also examined. Results revealed that trait anger was positively correlated with the RewP amplitude. The present study contributes to the literature by providing novel evidence for the link between trait anger and the RewP.