Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
07:05
A Protocol for the Administration of Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback Training
Published on: August 24, 2017
11.5K
Better Neuronal Efficiency After Emotional Competences Training: An fMRI Study
Michel Hansenne1, Delphine Nélis1, Dorothée Feyers2
1Department of Psychology, University of Liège, Belgium.
Psychologica Belgica
|November 28, 2018
Summary
Emotional competence training enhances adult brain efficiency. This study found reduced neural activity in key emotional regulation and attention areas after training, suggesting improved cognitive control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Adult emotional competences (EC) are improvable with training.
- Previous investigations relied on self-report and behavioral data.
- The neural basis of EC improvement remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cerebral correlates of enhanced emotional competence.
- To compare brain activity between an EC training group and a control group.
Main Methods:
- Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while viewing emotional stimuli.
- An experimental group received EC training; a control group received drama improvisation.
- Participants modulated emotional responses (decrease, increase, no change) to images.
Main Results:
- The EC training group exhibited reduced neural activity compared to controls.
- This reduction was observed in prefrontal regions, bilateral inferior parietal lobule, right precentral gyrus, and intraparietal sulcus.
- These areas are associated with emotional regulation and attention.
Conclusions:
- EC training leads to increased neural efficiency.
- Enhanced cognitive control over emotional responses is supported by these neural changes.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Physiology of Emotion
3.4K
The physiology of emotions is a multifaceted process involving the autonomic nervous system, brain structures, hormones, and neurotransmitters. This intricate interplay dictates how emotions manifest in the body and influence behavior.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
3.4K
01:26Emotional Expression
1.1K
Emotional expression encompasses how individuals convey their emotions through verbal communication and non-verbal cues. These non-verbal actions include facial expressions, body language, and physical gestures, such as frowning or smiling. Among these, facial expressions play a crucial role in emotional expression and are understood universally, indicating a biological basis for how humans communicate emotions.
Universal Facial Expressions
Psychologist Paul Ekman identified seven basic...
Universal Facial Expressions
Psychologist Paul Ekman identified seven basic...
1.1K
01:20Labeling Emotion
719
Emotional labeling is a cognitive process that involves identifying and naming one's emotions, such as anger, fear, happiness, or sadness. It allows individuals to recognize and express their internal emotional states, a critical aspect of emotional regulation and communication. Labeling emotions requires more than mere recognition; it also involves drawing upon memory and contextual cues to understand the current situation and apply a corresponding emotional label. For instance, feeling...
719
01:29Introduction to Motivation and Emotion
1.2K
Motivation is a multifaceted process that drives behavior toward fulfilling various physiological or psychological needs. This process involves initiating, guiding, and maintaining specific actions influenced by internal and external factors. For example, when someone feels hungry while watching television, hunger is a motivator, prompting the individual to get up, walk to the kitchen, and find something to eat. In this instance, hunger initiates and sustains the behavior necessary to meet the...
1.2K
01:01Role of Emotions in Social Life
382
Emotions play a fundamental role in shaping human experience and interactions. The absence of emotions would render life incomplete and fail to capture the essence of human nature. In social psychology, feelings and moods have been extensively studied due to their profound impact on social life and interpersonal relationships. These affective states influence decision-making, behavior, and social perceptions, making them integral to understanding human interactions.Emotions and Social...
382
01:24Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
438
Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs) are grounded in the belief that our thoughts profoundly influence our emotions and actions. Advocates of CBT emphasize three core assumptions: first, that cognitions are identifiable and measurable; second, that they are central to psychological functioning; and third, that irrational or maladaptive beliefs can be replaced with rational and adaptive ones. This transformative approach to therapy has paved the way for specific models such as Albert...
438