Abstract
Electrocortical activity, typically used to track the effects of cognitive reappraisal on the processing of emotional stimuli, has not been used to index the prefrontal-cortex-mediated
regulatory mechanisms responsible for these effects. In the present study, we examined the novel possibility that induced frontal alpha (i.e., 8–13 Hz), shown
to reflect the inhibition and disengagement of task-relevant cortical regions, may be quantified to explore cortical activation
that is specifically enhanced during cognitive reappraisal. For this purpose, 44 participants viewed unpleasant and neutral pictures followed by auditory
instructions to either continue viewing the picture or reduce their emotional response to the picture by making the picture
seem less emotional (i.e., cognitive reappraisal). In line with previous work, unpleasant pictures elicited a larger late
positive potential (LPP) than did neutral pictures. Also corroborating previous work, the mid-latency LPP was reduced when
pictures were cognitively reappraised. However, the present study showed for the first time that whereas unpleasant pictures
elicited higher frontal alpha power bilaterally than did the neutral pictures, frontal alpha power was reduced (indicative
of more activation and cognitive control) during cognitive reappraisal of both picture types over the left hemisphere. Taken
together, the LPP and event-related induced frontal-alpha findings contribute unique information about the distinct neural
substrates and cognitive processes underlying reappraisal.
regulatory mechanisms responsible for these effects. In the present study, we examined the novel possibility that induced frontal alpha (i.e., 8–13 Hz), shown
to reflect the inhibition and disengagement of task-relevant cortical regions, may be quantified to explore cortical activation
that is specifically enhanced during cognitive reappraisal. For this purpose, 44 participants viewed unpleasant and neutral pictures followed by auditory
instructions to either continue viewing the picture or reduce their emotional response to the picture by making the picture
seem less emotional (i.e., cognitive reappraisal). In line with previous work, unpleasant pictures elicited a larger late
positive potential (LPP) than did neutral pictures. Also corroborating previous work, the mid-latency LPP was reduced when
pictures were cognitively reappraised. However, the present study showed for the first time that whereas unpleasant pictures
elicited higher frontal alpha power bilaterally than did the neutral pictures, frontal alpha power was reduced (indicative
of more activation and cognitive control) during cognitive reappraisal of both picture types over the left hemisphere. Taken
together, the LPP and event-related induced frontal-alpha findings contribute unique information about the distinct neural
substrates and cognitive processes underlying reappraisal.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.3758/s13415-012-0107-9
- Authors
- Muhammad A. Parvaz, Medical Research, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 30 Bell Avenue, Bldg. 490, Upton, NY 11973-5000, USA
- Annmarie MacNamara, Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- Rita Z. Goldstein, Medical Research, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 30 Bell Avenue, Bldg. 490, Upton, NY 11973-5000, USA
- Greg Hajcak, Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- Journal Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
- Online ISSN 1531-135X
- Print ISSN 1530-7026