Cognitive Reappraisal Ability in Response to Threatening Stimuli: Associations with EEG Theta/Beta Ratio and Trait Anxiety

Background: Cognitive reappraisal ability (CRA) is an adaptive emotion regulation strategy that involves altering the meaning of emotional stimuli to reduce overtly expressed emotional responses. This study explored whether CRA can be predicted by the electroencephalography (EEG) theta/beta ratio (TBR), a biomarker that typically reflects attentional and inhibitory control. It was further investigated if trait anxiety can predict CRA and moderate the association between TBR and CRA. Methods: EEG, ECG and self-report data were collected in a sample of 30 healthy students.The trait anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-t) was used to assess trait anxiety. A resting-state EEG recording was taken to assess TBR. Using an experimental emotion induction task, participants were exposed to threatening pictures while heart rate measurements were taken to provide an index for CRA (reduction in fear bradycardia). Results: A significant negative correlation between TBR and...Show moreBackground: Cognitive reappraisal ability (CRA) is an adaptive emotion regulation strategy that involves altering the meaning of emotional stimuli to reduce overtly expressed emotional responses. This study explored whether CRA can be predicted by the electroencephalography (EEG) theta/beta ratio (TBR), a biomarker that typically reflects attentional and inhibitory control. It was further investigated if trait anxiety can predict CRA and moderate the association between TBR and CRA. Methods: EEG, ECG and self-report data were collected in a sample of 30 healthy students.The trait anxiety subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-t) was used to assess trait anxiety. A resting-state EEG recording was taken to assess TBR. Using an experimental emotion induction task, participants were exposed to threatening pictures while heart rate measurements were taken to provide an index for CRA (reduction in fear bradycardia). Results: A significant negative correlation between TBR and CRA indicated that individuals with higher TBR showed less effective cognitive reappraisal. Unexpectedly, trait anxiety neither predicted CRA nor moderated the association between TBR and CRA. Discussion: The finding that TBR was negatively associated with CRA aligns with previous research and supports the idea that TBR reflects prefrontal cortical control over subcortical emotional processes. Theta/beta neurofeedback training should be explored as an intervention for emotion dysregulation. Future research should test the association between trait anxiety and CRA in a clinically anxious sample, incorporating additional measures of CRA and self-relevant emotional stimuli.Show less

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Cognitive Reappraisal Ability in Response to Threatening Stimuli: Associations with EEG Theta/Beta Ratio and Trait Anxiety