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Abstract:
Although neuroimaging and lesion studies have identified
numerous brain regions important for emotion processing in general,
it is not known which regions are important for the regulation of
an emotional response. The present study examined the neural basis
of a cognitive form of emotion regulation known as reappraisal,
which involves reinterpreting an initially evocative stimulus or
event so that it no longer elicits an affective response. Whole
brain fMRI data were acquired for 13 healthy adult females (mean
age = 22.5) as they viewed neutral and negative photographs. For
neutral and half the negative photos participants were instructed
to Attend to and be aware of any feelings elicited by each image.
Participants were instructed to Reappraise the remaining negative
images. Ratings of negative affect were significantly lower for
Reappraised photos, confirming that reappraisal was effective.
Brain regions more active for Reappraise than for Attend trials
were presumed to be involved in the reinterpretation of photos and
one's emotional response to them. Activated regions included left
dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (B.A. 8, 9, and 46), left medial
frontal (B.A. 8) and cingulate (B.A. 32) cortex, as well as right
middle frontal gyrus (B.A. 9). These areas have been activated by
conflict resolution, working memory, and response generation,
suggesting that emotional reappraisal recruits brain systems used
for cognitive control.
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