Training executive functions; emotion regulatory and affective consequences

描述(申请人提供)：本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，本研究将考察认知控制、工作记忆和任务转移方面的训练对两种基本情绪调节策略：注意力分配和认知再评价的影响。神经解剖学模型表明，与执行功能相关的大脑区域--一组能够灵活调节行为的能力--构成了使用情绪调节策略的能力。此外，理论和基础神经科学研究表明，执行功能是可塑性的，可以通过训练来改善。综上所述，这些发现表明，有针对性的执行功能培训应该转化为情绪调节的改善。为了验证这一假设，提出了两项研究。研究一将考察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，完成为期30天的执行功能练习，或者被分配到没有接受执行功能培训的对照组。研究2将通过使用训练前后的功能磁共振成像评估来检验执行功能训练(目标3)的神经相关性。这项研究的长期目标是整合执行功能和情绪调节文献，并开发出对情绪调节有困难的临床人群有用的训练计划。 公共卫生相关性：公共卫生相关性：人们对执行职能对情绪调节的影响知之甚少，尽管情绪调节困难是许多精神疾病的核心。执行功能干预对情绪调节的潜在益处对基础科学和公共卫生都是实质性的。这项拟议的研究旨在解决执行功能培训是否以及如何有助于情绪调节改善的根本问题。我们预计，这些发现将以训练方案的形式具有翻译潜力，可以用于情绪调节缺陷的个体群体--例如那些患有Axis I(例如，情绪和焦虑症)和Axis II(例如，边缘人格障碍)病理的人。此外，我们预计调查结果将与NIMH的战略目标3直接相关。

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. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Public health relevance: Very little is known about the implications of executive functions to the regulation of emotions, even though emotion regulatory difficulties are central to many psychiatric disorders. The potential benefits of executive function intervention for emotion regulation are substantial for basic science and public health. The proposed research aims to address the fundamental questions of whether and how executive functions training contributes to emotion regulatory improvements. We anticipate that the findings will have translational potential in the form of a training protocol that can be used with groups of individuals with emotion regulatory deficits - such as those with Axis I (e.g., mood and anxiety disorders) and Axis II (e.g., Borderline personality disorder) pathologies. Furthermore, we anticipate the findings to have direct relevance for NIMH's Strategic Objective 3.