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Emotional foundations of cognitive control
Michael Inzlicht1, Bruce D Bartholow2, Jacob B Hirsh3
1Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada; Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
Cognitive control, essential for goal-directed behavior, is fundamentally driven by emotion. Emotional processes initiate and energize conflict resolution, highlighting emotion's crucial role in higher cognition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Cybernetics
Background:
- Cognitive control is traditionally viewed as a hallmark of higher cognition.
- Its relationship with emotion is often considered unidirectional, with emotion influencing control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose that cognitive control is not merely influenced by emotion, but is an emotional process itself.
- To reframe cognitive control as an emotion-driven mechanism.
Main Methods:
- Review of converging evidence from cybernetics, animal research, cognitive neuroscience, and social and personality psychology.
- Theoretical integration of findings to support a new conceptualization of cognitive control.
Main Results:
- Goal conflicts trigger emotional changes that focus attention and energize conflict resolution.
- Emotion is proposed as instrumental in recruiting cognitive control, not just a byproduct.
- This perspective offers a novel understanding of the interplay between emotion and cognition.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive control is fundamentally dependent on emotion.
- Understanding the emotional basis of control opens new avenues for research.
- This reconceptualization challenges traditional views of higher cognition.
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