Degree Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2012
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Robert L. West
Abstract
Antecedent-focused strategies of emotion regulation involve modifying thoughts shortly after an emotional stimulus is encountered. Cognitive reappraisal and distraction represent two forms of antecedent-focused emotion regulation. The current study used event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to examine whether
regulation interacts with the content of emotional information (Experiment 1), the neural correlates of these two forms of emotion regulation and their effectiveness in decreasing negative emotion (Experiment 2 and 3), the pattern of neural recruitment during regulation (Experiment 1, 2, and 3), and role of working memory and
metacognition in regulation (Experiment 3). In each experiment, individuals were asked to first view an emotional picture, then, based on a cue, continue to think about the picture, reappraise the picture, or use a form of distraction (i.e., either self directed or experimenter directed) to deploy attention away from the picture. Differences in neural activity were found in all three experiments. In Experiment 1,
the LPP was reduced in amplitude for reappraisal trials relative to attend trials for violent picture content. In Experiment 2, the LPP was reduced in amplitude for reappraise trials, relative to attend trials. In contrast, there was little difference in the amplitude of the LPP between distract and attend trials. Experiment 3 failed to establish an association between WMC and emotion regulation, or metacognition
and emotion regulation. Together, these data highlight the neural correlates of successful emotion regulation and directions for future research.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31274/etd-180810-1356
Copyright Owner
Brandy Nicole Tiernan
Copyright Date
2012
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
140 pages
Recommended Citation
Tiernan, Brandy Nicole, "The Neural Correlates of Emotion Regulation" (2012). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 12644.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/12644