Final Report Summary - EMOTION REGULATION (Cultural and genetic variation in emotion regulation)
Research examining how people respond to emotional stimuli has demonstrated important cross cultural differences in these experiences and behaviours. The main cultural distinction linked to these differences is that between individualist societies (where uniqueness and the independent self is relatively emphasised), and collectivist societies (where group cohesion and the interdependent self is relatively emphasised). Alongside this effect of the broader social environment on emotional responding, behaviour profiles shown by individuals with several neurodevelopmental disorders caused by known genetic mutations, illustrate ways in which one’s genetic makeup can impact on the way in which someone responds to emotional stimuli.
There is a rapidly growing literature on how people control their own emotional responding (emotion regulation) and the neural underpinnings of these processes. However, there has been little research examining cross cultural differences in emotion regulation that may underpin the observed cultural differences in emotional experience and expression. In addition, there has been extremely limited systematic investigation on emotion functioning in individuals with genetic neurodevelopmental disorders, and almost none on emotion regulation.
The aim of the project was to examine how cultural and genetic factors impact on emotion regulation and potentially mediate the observed differences in emotional responding. The focus in China during the outgoing phase would be on cultural factors, examining the neural mechanisms and effects on emotional responding associated with spontaneous and instructed emotion regulation in different immediate social and broader sociocultural contexts. The focus in the UK during the incoming phase would be on genetic factors, examining the impact of genetic disorder on emotion regulation.
For the outgoing phase, the original plan was to conduct one large study comparing spontaneous and instructed regulation in directly comparable frameworks within the same group of participants. However, in light of recent advances in the literature and in order to allow the research to fit more smoothly into the progressing research program at the outgoing host institute, the research was separated into a number of smaller studies with different participants. These studies together have allowed the project aims to be addressed alongside emerging state of the art questions. The primary training goals were for the fellow to develop knowledge and experience in social neuroscience theory; receive advanced training in the design, conduct and analysis of studies using electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) technology for functional brain imaging.
For the return phase, the original plan was to focus on Williams syndrome because there is a profile of elevated specific phobias to non-social stimuli in contrast to heightened sociability and decreased fear of strangers, with associated neurofunctional abnormalities (thus an fMRI study was planned). However, it became clear over the course of the project that additional ground work would be needed on emotion regulation in populations of individuals with genetic disorders, before it could be expected that valuable information could be ascertained from fMRI work. Thus, the return phase research plan was modified in order to ensure maximum translation of the expertise ascertained by the fellow in China; to the work in Europe. This was achieved in two ways: firstly, collaboration with researchers in VU University Amsterdam, established during the outgoing phase in China, was further developed in order to translate the cross-cultural social neuroscience expertise more directly into Europe. Secondly, the primary part of the return phase work was designed to utilise a methodology for assessing emotion regulation capacity; developed by the fellow in China and validate this method for use in individuals with genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. These studies allowed for the direct translation of expertise ascertained in China, to the research in Europe and have provided a basis for the progression to independence of the fellow. The primary goals of the return phase were the conduct of research on emotion regulation in genetically disordered populations, in which there has been limited or no previous work in the area; and – on a broader scale – translation of the knowledge and skills ascertained by the fellow during the training in China, to Europe.
The neural mechanisms and effects on emotional responding associated with spontaneous emotion regulation triggered by culturally relevant contexts:
This study used EEG methodology – so directly addressed one of the training objectives – to examine culturally relevant social context triggered changes in neural responses to emotional stimuli by placing participants into real social contexts. In Chinese females, the early attentional response to emotional stimuli was influenced by social context. The study paved the way for more realistic ways of assessing social influences on brain activity in a functional imaging environment. Through a collaboration established during the outgoing phase with researchers in Amsterdam, Holland, comparable data were collected with Dutch participants. During the return phase, the fellow visited the team in Amsterdam and joint analyses were conducted, with the help of the EEG analysis skills ascertained by the fellow in China, thus directly addressing the translation of knowledge objective.
An examination of the interaction between cognition and emotion: Effects of emotion, and instructed and spontaneous emotion regulation on cognitive control.
This study was a cognitive behavioural study designed to facilitate the ease with which questions on emotion and emotion regulation could be addressed in a cross cultural context. It used a novel emotional, cognitive control task to compare the effects on performance of increasing emotionally arousing content of stimuli; instructed engagement in different emotion regulation strategies; and contextually triggered changes in emotional responding occurring potentially through spontaneous regulation. The main findings demonstrated different performance based indicators for each of these distinct aspects of emotional responding and regulation. The findings can therefore help to address important current questions on how the cognitive control brain system interacts with the emotional system. It may also allow the development of indicators of engagement in emotion regulation that do not solely rely on self-report.
The spontaneous regulation of positive emotions triggered by culturally relevant contexts:
This study employed fMRI methodology – accomplishing another major training objective – and compared the neural correlates of engagement in instructed regulation of positive emotions to the neural correlates of engagement in context-triggered regulation under independent versus interdependent self-construal priming conditions. In this way the design allowed inferences to be made on the relative differences between the regulation engaged in when this cultural factor is manipulated. The main findings were that when people were encouraged to adopt a more interdependent manner of self-construal they appear to engage in more down-regulation of positive emotions. This finding is in keeping with many previous cross-cultural observations on differences in emotional responding and thus suggests that cultural differences in context-specific spontaneous engagement in emotion regulation driven by independent versus interdependent self-construal may be linked to the known cultural differences in emotional responding. The method applied in this study addressed the regulation of positive emotions; which have been rarely examined in the emotion regulation literature; but which are most relevant to apparent cultural variation in emotion responding. The method also provided a framework for the examination of the impact of cultural factors on context-triggered regulation, which will be important in facilitating future cross-cultural examination of these issues.
Study on investigating why the particular strategy used for emotion regulation matters from a cultural perspective:
This study used a novel behavioural paradigm to investigate cross-cultural differences in the effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal (the most well investigated emotion regulation technique) by re-construing an anger promoting event using either information on a provocateur’s internal characteristics or temporary situation. The main findings were that people from an individualist cultural background appear to be able to use reappraisal based on a provocateur’s internal characteristics to reduce their anger more effectively than individuals from a collectivist background. Reappraisal based on a provocateur’s temporary situation may be more effective however, for those from a collectivist cultural background. These differences appear to be related to people’s relative independent versus interdependent self-construal. This study is one of few to examine differences in the type of cognitive reappraisal that people engage in and the first to investigate how different types of reappraisal may be more or less effective for people from different cultural backgrounds.
Study on developing and validating a measure for the assessment of emotion regulation capacity in populations of individuals with genetic neurodevelopmental disorders:
The novel behavioural paradigm described above was modified so that it was appropriate for use with populations of individuals with genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. This allowed the direct translation of knowledge ascertained by the fellow in China, to the research being conducted in the UK. The measure was validated in a sample of typically developing adolescents, a group known to show relative difficulties in emotion regulation and work is underway to use the measure to form the first systematic investigation of the relationship between emotion regulation capacity and emotionally disordered behaviour in individuals with several different genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. This project has thus also addressed the objectives of the return phase by providing a basis for aspects of the future independent research of the fellow. In addition, the fellow supervised two graduate research associates who assisted with the project and was able to train these individuals in techniques relevant to the assessment of emotion regulation, which the fellow had ascertained in China. One of these research associates is now working in a full time paid capacity at the University of Cambridge using EEG methodology. The other is completing a masters course in fMRI methodology. Both plan to go on to careers in academia.
Expected final results and their potential impact and use
Results so far have developed new methods for assessing emotion regulation, which can be applied to different social contexts and different groups of people. These methodological advances will place their impact on society by providing a greater understanding about how people control their emotions in everyday life and why this is relevant, particularly for people from distinct cultural backgrounds. The work conducted at Birmingham will allow the first systematic examination of emotion regulation in individuals with certain genetic neurodevelopmental disorders; but also has wider implications in terms of assessing emotion regulation in other developmentally disordered populations. Results from this study will therefore have a major impact on families and professionals working with people with these disorders by increasing understanding of the factors underpinning behavior and ultimately providing data to inform on future intervention strategies.
There is a rapidly growing literature on how people control their own emotional responding (emotion regulation) and the neural underpinnings of these processes. However, there has been little research examining cross cultural differences in emotion regulation that may underpin the observed cultural differences in emotional experience and expression. In addition, there has been extremely limited systematic investigation on emotion functioning in individuals with genetic neurodevelopmental disorders, and almost none on emotion regulation.
The aim of the project was to examine how cultural and genetic factors impact on emotion regulation and potentially mediate the observed differences in emotional responding. The focus in China during the outgoing phase would be on cultural factors, examining the neural mechanisms and effects on emotional responding associated with spontaneous and instructed emotion regulation in different immediate social and broader sociocultural contexts. The focus in the UK during the incoming phase would be on genetic factors, examining the impact of genetic disorder on emotion regulation.
For the outgoing phase, the original plan was to conduct one large study comparing spontaneous and instructed regulation in directly comparable frameworks within the same group of participants. However, in light of recent advances in the literature and in order to allow the research to fit more smoothly into the progressing research program at the outgoing host institute, the research was separated into a number of smaller studies with different participants. These studies together have allowed the project aims to be addressed alongside emerging state of the art questions. The primary training goals were for the fellow to develop knowledge and experience in social neuroscience theory; receive advanced training in the design, conduct and analysis of studies using electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) technology for functional brain imaging.
For the return phase, the original plan was to focus on Williams syndrome because there is a profile of elevated specific phobias to non-social stimuli in contrast to heightened sociability and decreased fear of strangers, with associated neurofunctional abnormalities (thus an fMRI study was planned). However, it became clear over the course of the project that additional ground work would be needed on emotion regulation in populations of individuals with genetic disorders, before it could be expected that valuable information could be ascertained from fMRI work. Thus, the return phase research plan was modified in order to ensure maximum translation of the expertise ascertained by the fellow in China; to the work in Europe. This was achieved in two ways: firstly, collaboration with researchers in VU University Amsterdam, established during the outgoing phase in China, was further developed in order to translate the cross-cultural social neuroscience expertise more directly into Europe. Secondly, the primary part of the return phase work was designed to utilise a methodology for assessing emotion regulation capacity; developed by the fellow in China and validate this method for use in individuals with genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. These studies allowed for the direct translation of expertise ascertained in China, to the research in Europe and have provided a basis for the progression to independence of the fellow. The primary goals of the return phase were the conduct of research on emotion regulation in genetically disordered populations, in which there has been limited or no previous work in the area; and – on a broader scale – translation of the knowledge and skills ascertained by the fellow during the training in China, to Europe.
The neural mechanisms and effects on emotional responding associated with spontaneous emotion regulation triggered by culturally relevant contexts:
This study used EEG methodology – so directly addressed one of the training objectives – to examine culturally relevant social context triggered changes in neural responses to emotional stimuli by placing participants into real social contexts. In Chinese females, the early attentional response to emotional stimuli was influenced by social context. The study paved the way for more realistic ways of assessing social influences on brain activity in a functional imaging environment. Through a collaboration established during the outgoing phase with researchers in Amsterdam, Holland, comparable data were collected with Dutch participants. During the return phase, the fellow visited the team in Amsterdam and joint analyses were conducted, with the help of the EEG analysis skills ascertained by the fellow in China, thus directly addressing the translation of knowledge objective.
An examination of the interaction between cognition and emotion: Effects of emotion, and instructed and spontaneous emotion regulation on cognitive control.
This study was a cognitive behavioural study designed to facilitate the ease with which questions on emotion and emotion regulation could be addressed in a cross cultural context. It used a novel emotional, cognitive control task to compare the effects on performance of increasing emotionally arousing content of stimuli; instructed engagement in different emotion regulation strategies; and contextually triggered changes in emotional responding occurring potentially through spontaneous regulation. The main findings demonstrated different performance based indicators for each of these distinct aspects of emotional responding and regulation. The findings can therefore help to address important current questions on how the cognitive control brain system interacts with the emotional system. It may also allow the development of indicators of engagement in emotion regulation that do not solely rely on self-report.
The spontaneous regulation of positive emotions triggered by culturally relevant contexts:
This study employed fMRI methodology – accomplishing another major training objective – and compared the neural correlates of engagement in instructed regulation of positive emotions to the neural correlates of engagement in context-triggered regulation under independent versus interdependent self-construal priming conditions. In this way the design allowed inferences to be made on the relative differences between the regulation engaged in when this cultural factor is manipulated. The main findings were that when people were encouraged to adopt a more interdependent manner of self-construal they appear to engage in more down-regulation of positive emotions. This finding is in keeping with many previous cross-cultural observations on differences in emotional responding and thus suggests that cultural differences in context-specific spontaneous engagement in emotion regulation driven by independent versus interdependent self-construal may be linked to the known cultural differences in emotional responding. The method applied in this study addressed the regulation of positive emotions; which have been rarely examined in the emotion regulation literature; but which are most relevant to apparent cultural variation in emotion responding. The method also provided a framework for the examination of the impact of cultural factors on context-triggered regulation, which will be important in facilitating future cross-cultural examination of these issues.
Study on investigating why the particular strategy used for emotion regulation matters from a cultural perspective:
This study used a novel behavioural paradigm to investigate cross-cultural differences in the effectiveness of cognitive reappraisal (the most well investigated emotion regulation technique) by re-construing an anger promoting event using either information on a provocateur’s internal characteristics or temporary situation. The main findings were that people from an individualist cultural background appear to be able to use reappraisal based on a provocateur’s internal characteristics to reduce their anger more effectively than individuals from a collectivist background. Reappraisal based on a provocateur’s temporary situation may be more effective however, for those from a collectivist cultural background. These differences appear to be related to people’s relative independent versus interdependent self-construal. This study is one of few to examine differences in the type of cognitive reappraisal that people engage in and the first to investigate how different types of reappraisal may be more or less effective for people from different cultural backgrounds.
Study on developing and validating a measure for the assessment of emotion regulation capacity in populations of individuals with genetic neurodevelopmental disorders:
The novel behavioural paradigm described above was modified so that it was appropriate for use with populations of individuals with genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. This allowed the direct translation of knowledge ascertained by the fellow in China, to the research being conducted in the UK. The measure was validated in a sample of typically developing adolescents, a group known to show relative difficulties in emotion regulation and work is underway to use the measure to form the first systematic investigation of the relationship between emotion regulation capacity and emotionally disordered behaviour in individuals with several different genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. This project has thus also addressed the objectives of the return phase by providing a basis for aspects of the future independent research of the fellow. In addition, the fellow supervised two graduate research associates who assisted with the project and was able to train these individuals in techniques relevant to the assessment of emotion regulation, which the fellow had ascertained in China. One of these research associates is now working in a full time paid capacity at the University of Cambridge using EEG methodology. The other is completing a masters course in fMRI methodology. Both plan to go on to careers in academia.
Expected final results and their potential impact and use
Results so far have developed new methods for assessing emotion regulation, which can be applied to different social contexts and different groups of people. These methodological advances will place their impact on society by providing a greater understanding about how people control their emotions in everyday life and why this is relevant, particularly for people from distinct cultural backgrounds. The work conducted at Birmingham will allow the first systematic examination of emotion regulation in individuals with certain genetic neurodevelopmental disorders; but also has wider implications in terms of assessing emotion regulation in other developmentally disordered populations. Results from this study will therefore have a major impact on families and professionals working with people with these disorders by increasing understanding of the factors underpinning behavior and ultimately providing data to inform on future intervention strategies.