TOM F. PRICE and EDDIE HARMON-JONES

The present experiment examined the effect of different approach motivational  body postures on relative left frontal cortical activity, which has been linked  with approach motivation. Three body postures were manipulated to create three  levels of approach motivation. Consistent with the motivational direction model,  results indicated that leaning forward with arms extended (high approach) caused  greater left frontal cortical activation as compared to reclining backwards (low  approach). This is the first experiment to demonstrate this effect, and it  suggests that leaning forward as compared to reclining backward increases  approach motivation. These results provide important implications for the  motivational direction model and embodiment research.