Frontal EEG Asymmetry and Attachment Style During Sequential Decision-Making in the Secretary Problem
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Sequential decisions often unfold under uncertainty, requiring people to evaluate options one at a time and commit without the possibility of returning to earlier choices. Although such situations appear neutral on the surface, they engage emotional and regulatory processes that vary across individuals. This study examined whether frontal EEG asymmetry during the classic secretary problem is associated with attachment style. Twenty-seven participants completed a sequential decision-making task while EEG was recorded, and analyses focused on asymmetry at frontal sites. Asymmetry was extracted at three points in each decision sequence (start, middle, final), and additional regressions assessed whether deliberation length was related to asymmetry at the moment of choice. Insecure and secure participants showed different patterns of asymmetry across phases, and longer deliberation was linked to greater left-frontal activation. These associations suggest that individual differences related to attachment may be reflected in neural engagement even in abstract, non-emotional tasks. The findings point to frontal asymmetry as a potential dynamic marker of internal regulation during sequential choices and should be interpreted as exploratory.
Source: Behavioral Sciences
DOI: 10.3390/bs16020275
Author: Ilan Laufer
Institution: Ariel University
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,654
OpenAlex ID: W7128914079
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