Neural underpinnings of emotional responding and regulation: antecedents and correlates
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Reading
Department Name: Sch of Psychology and Clinical Lang Sci
Abstract
Our research will examine the origins of individual differences in brain responding to negative emotional material.
Scientists have noted that individuals show significant variation in how their brains respond to emotional material. In some cases, emotional areas of the brain overrespond to negative material, and associated regulatory areas are less effective in controlling this responding. This pattern of brain activity may lead to stronger emotional reactions than normal, as well as difficulties in subsequently damping down emotional reactions.
As yet, little is known about the origins of such individual differences in responding to negative emotional cues. Genes appear to be one source of influence, but there is also evidence to suggest that environmental experiences may be important, particularly those that occur early in an individual’s life.
We will study the origins of emotion-relevant brain activity by conducting brain scans in a large group of young adults whom we have been studying since birth. We will use detailed information relating to the early family and interpersonal experiences of these individuals to examine the factors that contribute to key aspects of brain activity. This, in turn, may tell us more about the origins of psychological difficulties that involve disturbances in emotional responding, such as depressive disorder.
Scientists have noted that individuals show significant variation in how their brains respond to emotional material. In some cases, emotional areas of the brain overrespond to negative material, and associated regulatory areas are less effective in controlling this responding. This pattern of brain activity may lead to stronger emotional reactions than normal, as well as difficulties in subsequently damping down emotional reactions.
As yet, little is known about the origins of such individual differences in responding to negative emotional cues. Genes appear to be one source of influence, but there is also evidence to suggest that environmental experiences may be important, particularly those that occur early in an individual’s life.
We will study the origins of emotion-relevant brain activity by conducting brain scans in a large group of young adults whom we have been studying since birth. We will use detailed information relating to the early family and interpersonal experiences of these individuals to examine the factors that contribute to key aspects of brain activity. This, in turn, may tell us more about the origins of psychological difficulties that involve disturbances in emotional responding, such as depressive disorder.
Technical Summary
Neuroimaging studies have resulted in substantial progress in our understanding of the neural underpinnings of emotional responding and regulation. However, our understanding of the origins of individual differences in neural responding to emotion stimuli is extremely limited.
The current project will examine aspects of functional brain activity in a longitudinally studied sample of young adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The sample has been extensively studied from the early postnatal period and is exceptionally well-characterised. Thus, we have longitudinal data on aspects of the prenatal, postnatal, and subsequent environment, which includes observational measures of early mother-offspring interactions. We will therefore be able to relate neural outcomes in our young adults to hypothetically important socio-developmental influences, particularly aspects of the family environment.
We will reassess this longitudinal sample at 21-years, and examine aspects of emotional responding and their neural correlates. In particular, we will conduct a comprehensive study of emotional reactivity and regulation, including an examination of the neural correlates of emotional responding using fMRI. Our projected sample size of 90 participants will provide sufficient power to investigate direct associations between social influences on development and neural functioning.
As emotional reactivity and regulation has also been a recent focus of research and theory in relation to depression, the proposed work stands to make a substantial contribution to our understanding of the developmental, emotional and neural origins of depressive disorder.
The current project will examine aspects of functional brain activity in a longitudinally studied sample of young adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The sample has been extensively studied from the early postnatal period and is exceptionally well-characterised. Thus, we have longitudinal data on aspects of the prenatal, postnatal, and subsequent environment, which includes observational measures of early mother-offspring interactions. We will therefore be able to relate neural outcomes in our young adults to hypothetically important socio-developmental influences, particularly aspects of the family environment.
We will reassess this longitudinal sample at 21-years, and examine aspects of emotional responding and their neural correlates. In particular, we will conduct a comprehensive study of emotional reactivity and regulation, including an examination of the neural correlates of emotional responding using fMRI. Our projected sample size of 90 participants will provide sufficient power to investigate direct associations between social influences on development and neural functioning.
As emotional reactivity and regulation has also been a recent focus of research and theory in relation to depression, the proposed work stands to make a substantial contribution to our understanding of the developmental, emotional and neural origins of depressive disorder.
