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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
08:42
Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
Separating sustained from transient aspects of cognitive control during thought suppression
Jason P Mitchell1, Todd F Heatherton, William M Kelley
1Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. mitchell@wjh.harvard.edu
Psychological Science
|May 2, 2007
Summary
This study reveals distinct brain mechanisms for thought regulation. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) sustains control, while the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) signals temporary needs for it during thought suppression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Executive Function
Background:
- Cognitive theories propose dual-process models for thought regulation.
- Neural models suggest distinct roles for the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in executive control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural correlates of thought suppression using a dual-process framework.
- To differentiate between transient and sustained brain activation patterns during cognitive control.
Main Methods:
- Employed advanced analysis techniques to distinguish transient from sustained brain activation.
- Utilized neuroimaging to examine brain activity during voluntary suppression of unwanted thoughts.
Main Results:
- Sustained activation increases were observed in the dorsolateral PFC during thought suppression.
- Transient activation increases in the bilateral ACC correlated with the occurrence of unwanted thoughts.
Conclusions:
- Findings support distinct roles for PFC and ACC in executive control and cognitive regulation.
- Provides neuroimaging evidence for dual-process models of thought regulation.
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