Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

The Neural Mechanism of Working Memory Training Improving Emotion Regulation

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Brain Informatics (BI 2019)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 11976))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 1104 Accesses

Abstract

Thirty-six patients with high anxiety were recruited. The subjects were divided into working memory training group and control group in a voluntary and random manner, with 18 individuals in each group. The training group was trained for 21 days of working memory, and the control group was not trained for working memory. The subjective emotion ratings and the ERP indicator late positive potential (LPP) of the two groups of participants were recorded, under three experimental conditions (watching negative images, cognitive reappraisal, attentional distraction). It was found that the LPP amplitude reduction was significantly higher for training group than control group specifically in the condition of cognitive reappraisal. This study showed that working memory training can improve the ability cognitive reappraisal and can be a potential intervention for promoting the emotional regulation of individuals with high trait anxiety.

This research was supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China [NSFC 31671136, 31530031, 51708003].

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baddeley, A.: Working memory. Science 255(5044), 556–559 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Goldin, P.R., McRae, K., Ramel, W., Gross, J.J.: The neural bases of emotion regulation: reappraisal and suppression of negative emotion. Biol. Psychiatry 63(6), 577–586 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hermann, A., Bieber, A., Keck, T., Vaitl, D., Stark, R.: Brain structural basis of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. Soc. Cogn. Affect. Neurosci. 9(9), 1435–1442 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Wadlinger, H.A., Isaacowitz, D.M.: Fixing our focus: training attention to regulate emotion. Pers. Soc. Psychol. Rev. 15(1), 75–102 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Opitz, P.C., Gross, J.J., Urry, H.L.: Selection, optimization, and compensation in the domain of emotion regulation: applications to adolescence, older age, and major depressive disorder. Soc. Pers. Psychol. Compass 6(2), 142–155 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Schmeichel, B.J., Volokhov, R.N., Demaree, H.A.: Working memory capacity and the self-regulation of emotional expression and experience. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 95(6), 1526 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Klingberg, T., Forssberg, H., Westerberg, H.: Training of working memory in children with ADHD. J. Clin. Exp. Neuropsychol. 24(6), 781–791 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Dahlin, E., Nyberg, L., Bäckman, L., Neely, A.S.: Plasticity of executive functioning in young and older adults: immediate training gains, transfer, and long-term maintenance. Psychol. Aging 23(4), 720 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Zhao, X., Zhou, R., Fu, L.: Working memory updating function training influenced brain activity. PLoS One 8(8), e71063 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Clark, C.M., Lawlor-Savage, L., Goghari, V.M.: Functional brain activation associated with working memory training and transfer. Behav. Brain Res. 334, 34–49 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Takeuchi, H., et al.: Working memory training improves emotional states of healthy individuals. Front. Syst. Neurosci. 8, 200 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Xiu, L., Zhou, R., Jiang, Y.: Working memory training improves emotion regulation ability: evidence from HRV. Physiol. Behav. 155, 25–29 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Schäfer, J.Ö., Naumann, E., Holmes, E.A., Tuschen-Caffier, B., Samson, A.C.: Emotion regulation strategies in depressive and anxiety symptoms in youth: a meta-analytic review. J. Youth Adolesc. 46(2), 261–276 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. DeCicco, J.M., Solomon, B., Dennis, T.A.: Neural correlates of cognitive reappraisal in children: an ERP study. Dev. Cogn. Neurosci. 2(1), 70–80 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Dennis, T.A., Hajcak, G.: The late positive potential: a neurophysiological marker for emotion regulation in children. J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 50(11), 1373–1383 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Qi, S., et al.: Impact of working memory load on cognitive control in trait anxiety: an ERP study. PloS One 9(11), e111791 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Sari, B.A., Koster, E.H., Pourtois, G., Derakshan, N.: Training working memory to improve attentional control in anxiety: a proof-of-principle study using behavioral and electrophysiological measures. Biol. Psychol. 121, 203–212 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Aldao, A., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., Schweizer, S.: Emotion-regulation strategies across psychopathology: a meta-analytic review. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 30(2), 217–237 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hu, T., Zhang, D., Wang, J., Mistry, R., Ran, G., Wang, X.: Relation between emotion regulation and mental health: a meta-analysis review. Psychol. Rep. 114(2), 341–362 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Mocaiber, I., et al.: Fact or fiction? An event-related potential study of implicit emotion regulation. Neurosci. Lett. 476(2), 84–88 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Hajcak, G., Nieuwenhuis, S.: Reappraisal modulates the electrocortical response to unpleasant pictures. Cogn. Affect. Behav. Neurosci. 6(4), 291–297 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hajcak, G., MacNamara, A., Olvet, D.M.: Event-related potentials, emotion, and emotion regulation: an integrative review. Dev. Neuropsychol. 35(2), 129–155 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Parvaz, M.A., Moeller, S.J., Goldstein, R.Z., Proudfit, G.H.: Electrocortical evidence of increased post-reappraisal neural reactivity and its link to depressive symptoms. Soc. Cogn. Affect. Neurosci. 10(1), 78–84 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Frühholz, S., Jellinghaus, A., Herrmann, M.: Time course of implicit processing and explicit processing of emotional faces and emotional words. Biol. Psychol. 87(2), 265–274 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Hajcak, G., Dunning, J.P., Foti, D.: Motivated and controlled attention to emotion: time-course of the late positive potential. Clin. Neurophysiol. 120(3), 505–510 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Pan, D.N., Wang, D., Li, X.-B.: Cognitive and emotional benefits of emotional dual dimension n-back training based on an APP. Acta Psychologica Sinica 50(10), 1105–1119 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Pedullà, L., et al.: Adaptive vs. non-adaptive cognitive training by means of a personalized App: a randomized trial in people with multiple sclerosis. J. NeuroEng. Rehabil. 13(1), 88 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Pan, D.N., Wang, Y., Li, X.: Strategy bias in the emotion regulation of high trait anxiety individuals: an investigation of underlying neural signatures using ERPs. Neuropsychology 33, 111–122 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Lang, P.J., Bradley, M.M., Cuthbert, B.N.: International affective picture system (IAPS): instruction manual and affective ratings. The Center for Research in Psychophysiology, University of Florida (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Pe, M.L., Raes, F., Kuppens, P.: The cognitive building blocks of emotion regulation: ability to update working memory moderates the efficacy of rumination and reappraisal on emotion. PloS One 8(7), e69071 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Xiaobo Wang, Dongni Pan & Xuebing Li

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Xiaobo Wang, Dongni Pan & Xuebing Li

  3. North China University of Technology, Beijing, 100144, China

    Xiaobo Wang

Authors
  1. Xiaobo Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dongni Pan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xuebing Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xuebing Li .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Capital Normal University, Beijing, China

    Peipeng Liang

  2. York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Vinod Goel

  3. Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China

    Chunlei Shan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Wang, X., Pan, D., Li, X. (2019). The Neural Mechanism of Working Memory Training Improving Emotion Regulation. In: Liang, P., Goel, V., Shan, C. (eds) Brain Informatics. BI 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 11976. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37078-7_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37078-7_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-37077-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-37078-7

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics