The Neural Basis Of Negative Emotion Regulation Flexibility And Its Adaptation

In daily life,we have to face different stressful and negative events.It has long been accepted that using different emotion regulation strategies is essential for individuals to to maintain their physical and mental health,and to improve people’s interpersonal relationships and subjective well-being.In the complex social environment,life situations are ever-changing.However,there is no one-size-fits-all response or regulatory strategy suitable for all situations.Negative emotion regulation flexibility(NERF)emphasizes that individuals can flexibly deploy and adjust emotion regulation strategies according to the characteristics of ever-changing stressful situations in daily life,so as to meet the needs of the situations and then achieve the best regulatory efficacy.Therefore,NERF plays a key role in adapting to the environment and maintaining physical and mental health.In recent years,NERF has become a hot topic in the research field of emotion regulation.The main reason for the emergence of this research field is that: 1)many researchers suggested that it is unreasonable to simply divide the ER strategies into adaptive or maladaptive strategies based on their relation with mental health,because the efficacy of coping and emotion regulation strategies is variable across life contexts;2)it is important to emphasize the interaction between ER strategies and life situations during the regulatory process,while the idea of uniform Efficacy of certain strategies ignored the demands of life contexts.Researchers believe that the effective process of emotional regulation depends on the flexible matching of different strategies and contextual features.Therefore,NERF provides a new research perspective for individuals’ ability of emotion regulatory.So far,due to the large heterogeneity of the concept of NERF and the lack of longitudinal research design,it is still controversial whether NERF has adaptive significance to emotional health.Although NERF is one of the main indicators used to measure individual differences in emotion regulation ability,there is also a lack of experimental paradigms to explore the cognitive and neural mechanisms of NERF.To this end,we conducted four studies including eight experiments to 1)investigate the positive values of NERF on mental health;2)reveal the psychological mechanism and neural basis of NERF and 3)wether the non-invasive neurostimulation by using t DCS on the core brain regions could improve the performance of NERF.Specifically,in study 1,we explored the relationship between trait and state NERF and emotional health by using a questionnaire survey and experience-sampling method(ESM).However,study 1 could not reveal the cognitive process and neural basis of NERF.Moreover,ER variability was used in calculating NERF,which cannot describe the dynamic co-change of different scenarios and certain ER strategies in detail.Therefore,based on the strategy-situation fit model(SSF),we developed two types of NERF tasks in studies 2 and 3 to answer the questions that study 1 did not solve.As well these two studies aim to compare the distinct and common brain activity patterns among two different NERF process based on different situational features and ER strategies.Considering that study 2 and 3 con only explore the correlation between behavioral response and brain activity,we conducted study 4 to detect the causal relationship between NERF task performance and brain activity by applying the transcranial direct current stimulation(t DCS).The main purpose of study 1 is to test whether trait and state NERF has positive and adaptive values for our psychological health.First,we examined the reliability and validity of the Coping Flexibility Scale(CFS)in Chinese samples to measure individuals’ trait NERF.The results in Chinese samples support a one-factor structure for CFS according to the fit indices.The revised CFS has a great validity,reliability and test-retest reliability.In experiment 1,the results based on cross-sectional design indicated that trait NERF can significantly predict individuals’ anxiety and depressive feelings after controlling for the effects of habitual use of different ER strategies.It is worth mentioning that trait NERF has a better effect on the prediction of anxiety than habitual use of single ER strategy,such as rumination and reappraisal.The results based on longitudinal design indicated that trait NERF can predict the level of trait anxiety after one year,but failed to predict individual’s depressive feelings after one year.In experiment 2,two indictors of ER variability(between-and within-strategy SDs)were used to measure individuals’ state NERF.We hypothesized and found that between-strategy variability is related to trait NERF and could serve as a protective factor against depressive symptoms and anxiety.People with higher within-strategy variability(specifically for reappraisal and distraction)reported fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms.To a certain extent,the results of study1 verified the idea that NERF can serve as a positive and adaptive role for mental health.What’s more,our results partially validated a view that NERF can lead to lower levels of negative emotions,but negative emotions cannot predict NERF in the reverse direction.Study 2 aims to reveal the cognitive and neural basis of NERF based on the strategysituation fit model,the fit between two strategies(distraction and reappraisal)and the situation’s negative degree(SSNF).In experiment 3,based on ESM,we assessed the covariation between the use of two types of strategies in daily life(distraction and reappraisal)and the degree of negativity of the situation at the same time point,to explore the relationship between negative emotions and NERF as measured by SSNF.The results of two independent samples suggested that individuals who are more inclined to use higher level of distraction when experiencing high negative feelings in live contexts(e.g.adverse events or COVID-19),and use higher level of reappraisal during low-negative situations have higher level of NERF.They reported lower levels of anxiety and depressive feelings.However,if the co-variation between two strategies’ and situations’ negativity are in opposite trends(like using more distraction in low-negative situations and using more reappraisal in high-negative situations),people reported higher negative feelings which means they have lower NEFR.Experiment 4a aims to test the effectiveness of the NERF task,which depicts the decision-making process in which individuals flexibly change their ER strategies synchronously according to changes in the negative degree of the situations.There were two within-subject conditions in this experiment,including ‘Repeat Situation’ and ‘Switch Situation’.In the ‘Repeat Situation’ condition,participants were instructed to use a given strategy which is matched to the negativity level of a situation to decrease their negative feelings.And then following a same negativity level of situation,participants were asked to decrease their negative feelings by choosing an ER strategy between distraction and reappraisal.Comparing to the‘Repeat Situation’,the negativity level of situations was always switched from low to high level or in the opposite way.Our results showed that it required longer reaction time and had a lower accuracy rate in the ‘Switch Situation’ condition than in the ‘Repeat Situation’,indicating that switch costs do exist in this NERF task.The switch cost is calculated by subtracting the accuracy rate(ACC)or response time(RT)in the ‘Repeat Situation’ from the ‘Switch Situation’.Higher switch costs mean low level of NERF.Correlation analysis results showed that the switch cost of RT is positively related to the subscales of difficulties in emotion regulation,including non-acceptance of emotional responses,difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior,impulse control difficulties and limited access to emotion regulation strategies.It is also associated with negative emotion.We also found that there is a negative correlation trend between the switch costs of RT and trait NERF.The above results jointly indicated that the NERF task based on SSNF has a good validity.In experiment 4b,to further explore the neural underpinning of the NERF,participants underwent(functional magnetic resonance imaging)f MRI while performing the same task as in 4a.Confirming theoretical predictions,activation maps in the Switch Situation > Repeat Situation contrast demonstrated increased activation in the bilateral insula,inferior frontal gyrus(IFG),middle frontal gyrus(MFG),left ventromedial prefrontal cortex(vm PFC),inferior parietal lobe(IPL),supramarginal gyrus,middle cingulate gyrus(MCC),precuneus and middle temporal gyrus.We chose several brain regions in the prefrontal lobe(e.g.IFG,MFG and vm PFC)that activated in the NERF task as the region of interest(ROI)to investigate the functional connectivity of the NERF by using psychophysiological interaction analysis(PPI).We found that there was significant functional connectivity between vm PFC and MFG,as well as between vm PFC and IPL.What’s more,the vm PFC-MFG connectivity values were negatively related to RT switch costs,but positively related to the ACC switch costs.In addition,the vm PFCIPL connectivity values were positive related to the ACC switch costs.These results together supported the idea that the process of NERF based on strategy-situation fit may involve the valuation of situational information,the cognitive control of ER strategies and self-monitoring.The functional coupling of the evaluation system and the cognitive control system together facilitate the performance of NERF.Study 3 comprising of two experiments aims to reveal the cognitive and neural basis of NERF based on the fit between two strategies(problem-solving and reappraisal)and the situation’s controllability degree(SSCF).In experiment 5,we explored the NERF based on the co-variation between the use of two types of strategies in daily life(problemsolving and reappraisal)and the degree of controllability of the situation at the same time point.The results showed that the negative covariation between the use of reappraisal and the degree of contextual controllability,which means high NERF,was negatively correlated with anxiety level.On the other hand,the positive covariation between the use of problem-solving and the degree of contextual controllability,which also means high NERF,was negatively correlated with depression level.Experiment 6a aims to test the effectiveness of the NERF task,which depicts the decision-making process in which individuals flexible change their ER strategies synchronously according to changes in the controllability degree of the situations.We used hypothetical life events to manipulate two conditions,including‘Repeat Situation’ and ‘Switch Situation’.The process of the NERF task in experiment 6a is the same as the one in experiment 4a.Our results showed that it required longer reaction time in the ‘Switch Situation’ condition than in the ‘Repeat Situation’,indicating that switch costs do exist in this NERF task.The method to calculate switch costs is the same as experiment 4a.Correlation analysis results showed that the switch cost of RT is positively related to one subscale of difficulties in emotion regulation,lack of emotional awareness.It is also associated with negative emotion.We also found that there is a negative correlation trend between the switch costs of RT and trait NERF.The above results jointly indicated that the NERF task based on SSCF has a good validity.To further explore the neural underpinning of the NERF based on SSCF,we conducted experiment 6b by using f MRI tasks.The neuroimaging results showed that increased brain activation in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(dl PFC),superior frontal gyrus(SFG),inferior parietal lobe(IPL),left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex(dm PFC),precuneus,precentral gyrus,and middle temporal gyrus(MTG)were found in the contrast of ‘Switch Situation’ > ‘Repeat Situation’.The activation intensity values of dm PFC and bilateral dl PFC were positively correlated with the switch costs of RT,and negatively correlated with the switch costs of ACC.The results from PPI analyses showed that there was significant functional connectivity between dm PFC and SFG,as well as between dm PFC and IPL.To explore the similarities and differences of the neural basis in two types of NERF tasks,we conducted conjunction analysis.Common areas associated with two NERF tasks included the left insula,left SFG,precuneus and left IPL.Our results suggested that vm PFC contributes to the NERF task based on SSFN while dm PFC contributes to the NERF task based on SSCN.The above results indicated that the two types of NERF tasks may all recruit the process of situational valuation,cognitive control and self-monitoring.However,the valuation of two situational features involves the activation of the medial prefrontal cortex in different areas.Finally,compared to classic ER tasks(implementing single ER strategy),the flexible ER choice according to contextual features specifically recruits the brain regions in the medial prefrontal cortex,IPL and precuneus,which highlighted the core roles of the valuation system and selfmonitoring system in NERF.To further verify whether the brain activation in vm PFC and dm PFC could facilitate the performance of NERF based on SSNF and SSCF respectively,study 4 applied t DCS to stimulate these two core brain regions.In experiment 7,participants performed NERF tasks based on SSNF,in conjunction with t DCS anode stimulation in the vm PFC.The results showed that RT is longer in the ‘Switch Situation’ condition than in the ‘Repeat Situation’ condition in the sham group,which repeatedly verified the results of experiment 4a.However,there is no significant difference in RT and ACC between two conditions in the sactive group.The independent sample T test results showed that participants in active groups have lower switch costs of RT than those in sham groups,while their switch costs of ACC have no significant difference.These results showed that anode stimulation of vm PFC can improve the performance of NERF task based on SSNF.In experiment 8,participants performed NERF tasks based on SSCF,in conjunction with t DCS stimulation in the dm PFC.In line with the results in experiment 6a,we found longer RT and lower ACC in ‘Switch Situation’ conditions than in the ‘Repeat Situation’condition in the sham group,while we did not find these difference in the active group.The independent sample T test results showed it required lower switch costs of RT in the active group than in the sham group.Although their mean switch costs of ACC have no significant differences between the two groups,the switch costs of ACC in ‘low-high switch situation’ > ‘high-high repeat situation’ contrast is higher in the active group than in the sham group.These results indicated that anode stimulation of dm PFC can improve the performance of NERF tasks based on SSCF.Together,based on the above results,we suggested that NERF has positive and adaptive values for emotional health.In addition,it is the first to explore the cognitive neural basis of NERF based on the experimental paradigm developed by the strategysituation fit model.Taking into account the diversity of life situational features,we distinguished the common and distinct mechanisms of NERF based on two types of strategy-situation fit models.The cognitive process of two types of NERF emphasized the specific functions of the the evaluation system,cognitive control system and selfmonitoring systems.The difference is that NERF based on SSNF recruited the brain actvitity in the vm PFC,while NERF based on SSCF recruited the brain actvitity in the dm PFC,which indicated that the evaluation of different characteristics of the situations involves the activation of different areas of the medial prefrontal cortex.Finally,we also used the t DCS method to further confirm that increasing the activity of the medial prefrontal cortex can improve task performance of NERF.These results provide evidential support for understanding the cognitive process of NERF from the perspective of regulatory decision-making behavior based on situational valuations.It deepens the understanding of the adaptation of NERF on emotional health,and provides a potential explanation of emotional dyregulation in clinical patient with affective disorders.