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Does cognitive load influence expressive flexibility? Comparing civilian and veteran populations
Roland P Hart1, John A Benzshawel2, George A Bonanno1
1Department of Counseling & Clinical Psychology, Columbia University Teachers College, New York, NY, USA.
Cognition & Emotion
|February 13, 2024
Summary
Expressive flexibility (EF) involves adjusting emotional expression to context. Cognitive load impairs EF suppression abilities, a finding consistent across veterans and non-veterans, highlighting the link between cognitive control and emotion regulation.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Expressive flexibility (EF) is crucial for emotion regulation and healthy adjustment.
- EF has been linked to better outcomes in combat veterans with post-traumatic stress.
- Cognitive control functions, like working memory, are hypothesized to support EF.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cognitive control and expressive flexibility.
- To examine how cognitive load affects EF performance in veterans and non-veterans.
Main Methods:
- Participants (42 veterans, 75 non-veterans) completed an EF task under conditions with and without cognitive load.
- A numerical cognitive load task was integrated to assess its impact on EF.
Main Results:
- An interaction was found between cognitive load and expressive condition.
- Suppression of emotional expression was significantly weaker under cognitive load.
- This effect did not differ between veteran and non-veteran groups.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive control is linked to regulatory flexibility, supporting EF.
- The findings suggest shared cognitive-affective mechanisms across veteran and non-veteran populations.
- EF is sensitive to cognitive demands, particularly during suppression.
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