Research Article: Making a Life Worth Living. Neural Correlates of Well-Being

Despite the vast literature that has implicated asymmetric activation of the prefrontal cortex in approach-withdrawal motivation and emotion, no published reports have directly explored the neural correlates of well-being. Eighty-four right-handed adults (ages 57-60) completed self-report measures o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychological science 2004-06, Vol.15 (6), p.367-372
Main Authors: Urry, Heather L, Nitschke, Jack B, Dolski, Isa, Jackson, Daren C, Dalton, Kim M, Mueller, Corrina J, Rosenkranz, Melissa A, Ryff, Carol D, Singer, Burton H, Davidson, Richard J
Format: Article
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Despite the vast literature that has implicated asymmetric activation of the prefrontal cortex in approach-withdrawal motivation and emotion, no published reports have directly explored the neural correlates of well-being. Eighty-four right-handed adults (ages 57-60) completed self-report measures of eudaimonic well-being, hedonic well-being, and positive affect prior to resting electroencephalography. As hypothesized, greater left than right superior frontal activation was associated with higher levels of both forms of well-being. Hemisphere-specific analyses documented the importance of goal-directed approach tendencies beyond those captured by approach-related positive affect for eudaimonic but not for hedonic well-being. Appropriately engaging sources of appetitive motivation, characteristic of higher left than right baseline levels of prefrontal activation, may encourage the experience of well-being.
ISSN:0956-7976
1467-9280
DOI:10.1111/j.0956-7976.2004.00686.x