Neurophysiological study of generation and regulation of top-down emotional processing: from basic study to application

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14251
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 10040:Experimental psychology-related
• Research Institution: Shizuoka University (2023); The University of Tokyo (2020-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Ozawa Sachiyo 静岡大学, 人文社会科学部, 学術研究員 (90767716)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: トップダウン処理の感情 / 自伝的想起 / 感情誘導 / 生理変化 / 社会的感情 / ストレス / 心身症状

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We examined the validity and neural bases of emotion induction procedure which induces top-down emotions. In this procedure, participants were asked to freely recall memories of interpersonal stressful events and respond a series of questions regarding the recalled memories. We found that this procedure induces mixed emotions of disgust and anger which are frequently experienced in the social context. Furthermore, we found that disgust and anger as a mixed emotion can synergistically activate amygdala. Moreover, we found that sustained tapping tasks were more effective in decreasing unpleasant emotions and unpleasant thoughts compared with rest, based on our distraction study which measured pupil-size changes.

Free Research Field

感情心理学、臨床心理学、認知神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

感情制御のテーマを扱う上で、日常体験に近い不快感情を誘導し、その制御効果を検証することの重要性を示した。安静にしているより、安易でも注意を要する課題を行う方が、不快感情や不快な思考を抑制する効果があるという知見を示し、日常における有効な感情制御方略について提案した。