Frontal alpha and parietal theta asymmetries associated with color-induced emotions

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between color perception—hue, brightness, and saturation—and its emotional response—valence, arousal, and pleasure—, through subjective evaluations, as well as their association with frontal and parietal asymmetric activity patterns through electroencephalographic (EEG) recording. Using the 37 colors from the Berkeley Color Project, along with positive and negative control images, we examined the perceptual and emotional dimensions of color in 32 Mexican participants (19 women; M = 21.4 years, SD = 3.3). Subjective evaluations revealed a strong positive correlation between valence and brightness, and between arousal and saturation. Brighter, arousing, and pleasant colors were associated with greater cortical activation (decreased alpha power) in the left dorsolateral prefrontal region—i.e., F3 electrode—, indicating positive emotional processing according to the frontal alpha asymmetry model. Additionally, increased theta power in the right lateral parietal region—i.e., P4 electrode—correlated with higher positive emotional and pleasurable responses. Our findings are in line with studies suggesting universal consistencies in how perceptual color dimensions relate to emotional responses. Moreover, significant correlations between subjective emotional responses and asymmetrical EEG activity models are highlighted, providing insights into the neural mechanisms of color-induced emotion perception, as no other study has done before to our knowledge. Further research should explore these associations using higher spatial resolution imaging techniques and larger electrode arrays to define precise cortical and subcortical regions involved. These results contribute to understanding color perception’s impact on emotions, with potential applications in mental health treatments, such as chromotherapy for mood disorders.