The Effects of Emotion Regulation on the Amygdala
Author Information
Author(s): Walter Henrik, von Kalckreuth Alexander, Schardt Dina, Stephan Achim, Goschke Thomas, Erk Susanne
Primary Institution: University of Bonn
Hypothesis
Does voluntary emotion regulation have sustained effects on amygdala activation after the regulation period?
Conclusion
Voluntary emotion regulation extends beyond the period of active regulation, leading to sustained downregulation of amygdala activation.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants successfully regulated their emotions during the task.
- Reduced amygdala activation was observed during active regulation.
- Sustained downregulation of amygdala activation was noted 10 minutes after regulation.
- Immediate aftereffects showed a paradoxical increase in amygdala activation post-regulation.
- Correlation found between DLPFC activation and amygdala downregulation.
Takeaway
When people try to control their emotions, it can help them feel better even after they stop trying. This study looked at how this works in the brain.
Methodology
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to study amygdala activation in healthy female subjects during active emotion regulation and subsequent passive viewing tasks.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the exclusion of participants based on BDI scores.
Limitations
The study only included female participants, limiting generalizability to males, and did not use online ratings during fMRI.
Participant Demographics
20 healthy right-handed female volunteers, average age 24 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.000037
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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