Scientists conducted a large-scale study whose results call into question the effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal—a method in which a person attempts to change their emotions by looking at a situation from a different angle.
Link between brain activity and strategy success
It was previously believed that attempts to regulate emotions activate certain areas of the brain located behind the forehead—the prefrontal cortex. This area is also responsible for logical reasoning and memory functions. Researchers expected to find a direct link between activity in these zones and how successfully a person manages emotional tension.
However, data analysis showed that activity in areas associated with emotional control does not correlate with how effectively people use this strategy to improve their state.
New data published in the journal Nature highlight the difference between simply observing brain activity during the application of a strategy and the actual benefit a person derives from the process. Some zones involved in emotion regulation do not necessarily coincide with the areas that determine the method's success.
Context
Cognitive reappraisal is a psychological strategy involving an attempt to change an emotional reaction to a situation by changing its interpretation.
