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Neural correlates of thought suppression
Carrie L Wyland1, William M Kelley, C Neil Macrae
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, 6207 Moore Hall, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. wyland@dartmouth.edu
Neuropsychologia
|October 24, 2003
Summary
This study used fMRI to explore brain activity during thought suppression. Suppressing specific thoughts activated the anterior cingulate, while suppressing all thoughts engaged a broader network including the insula.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Understanding the neural basis of thought control is crucial.
- Recurring intrusive thoughts are a feature of several psychological disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural correlates of thought suppression using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
- To differentiate brain activity patterns associated with suppressing specific thoughts versus all thoughts.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
- Participants alternated between three conditions: suppressing a specific thought, suppressing all thoughts, and free-thinking.
Main Results:
- Suppressing a particular thought showed increased activation in the anterior cingulate compared to free-thinking.
- Suppressing all thoughts revealed activation in a distributed network, including the anterior cingulate and insula, relative to free-thinking.
Conclusions:
- Neural mechanisms underlying thought suppression involve specific brain regions like the anterior cingulate and insula.
- Findings align with cognitive control research and may inform understanding of disorders characterized by intrusive thoughts.