Repeated Stops for a Red Light Induced a Left‐Superior Asymmetrical Brain Activity in the Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy Reflecting Approach Motivation of Anger in Elderly Adults but not in Younger Adults

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Abstract

Abstract Previous electroencephalography studies on anger suggest that greater left than right frontal cortical activity is associated with approach motivation of anger. Our previous study showed that greater left‐superior frontal activation of electroencephalography was associated with subjective anger during a traffic jam simulation that forced participants to maintain a slower speed than expected in elderly adults, but not in young adults. We subsequently observed similar left‐superior frontal brain activity using near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in elderly adults in the same driving situation. Using NIRS, the present study demonstrated that the elderly, but not young adults, exhibited left‐superior brain activity in the front‐dorsolateral area when they were forced to stop four times at a red traffic light in a driving simulator. Driving through the same intersections with green lights did not elicit brain activation in either age group. After four red lights, but not after four green lights, a yellow light induced left‐superior brain activity in elderly adults. This asymmetric brain activity is associated with Trail Making Test score, which reflects executive functioning. These results are discussed with regard to the inhibitory potential of aged adults.

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