Training executive functions; emotion regulatory and affective consequences

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议研究的总体目标是调查执行功能训练对情绪调节的影响。更具体地说，该提案将研究认知控制、工作记忆和任务转移训练对两种基本情绪调节策略（注意力部署和认知重新评估）的影响。神经解剖模型表明，与执行功能（一组实现灵活行为调节的能力）有关的大脑区域是采用情绪调节策略的能力的基础。此外，理论和基础神经科学研究表明，执行功能是可塑的，可以通过训练得到改善。总的来说，这些发现表明有针对性的执行功能训练应该转化为情绪调节的改善。为了检验这一假设，提出了两项​​研究。研究 1 将检验执行功能训练对执行功能、情绪调节改善（目标 1）和情感功能（目标 2）的影响。研究 1 的参与者将被随机分配到训练组并完成 30 天的执行功能练习，或分配到未接受执行功能训练的对照组。研究 2 将通过使用训练前后的功能磁共振成像评估来检查执行功能训练（目标 3）的神经相关性。这项研究的广泛、长期目标是整合执行功能和情绪调节文献，并制定一个对有情绪调节困难的临床人群有用的培训计划。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall goal of the proposed research is to investigate the effects of executive functions training on emotion regulation. More specifically, this proposal will examine the effects of training in cognitive control, working memory, and task shifting on two fundamental emotion regulatory strategies: attention deployment and cognitive reappraisal. Neuroanatomical models suggest that brain regions implicated in executive functions - a set of abilities that enable flexible behavioral regulation - underlie the ability to employ emotion regulation strategies. Furthermore, theoretical and basic neuroscience research shows that executive functions are plastic and can be improved by training. Taken together, these findings suggest that targeted executive functions training should translate into emotion regulatory improvements. To test this hypothesis, two studies are proposed. Study 1 will examine the effects of executive functions training on executive functions, emotion regulatory improvements (Aim 1) and affective functioning (Aim 2). Participants in Study 1 will be randomly assigned either to a training group and complete 30-days of executive functions exercises, or to a control group that receives no executive functions training. Study 2 will examine the neural correlates of executive functions training (Aim 3) via the use of functional magnetic resonance imagining assessments pre- and post-training. The broad, long-term objective of this research is to integrate executive functions and emotion regulation literatures and develop a training program that will be useful for clinical populations with emotion regulatory difficulties.