Emotion regulation: From neural circuits to a transdiagnostic perspective

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Emotion regulation is crucial in psychopathology, but its transdiagnostic status is debated.
• Existing frameworks like the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) categorize mental illnesses, but emotion regulation's place is unclear.
• Understanding emotion regulation's neural basis is key to its potential as a transdiagnostic construct.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if emotion regulation is a transdiagnostic construct by examining its neural basis.
• To compare the neural correlates of emotion regulation with existing RDoC domains.
• To identify common brain activity patterns during emotion regulation across psychiatric disorders.

Main Methods:

• A two-step meta-analysis approach was used.
• Step 1: Coordinate-based meta-analyses reanalyzed data from ten prior meta-analyses on RDoC domains and emotion regulation in healthy adults.
• Step 2: A comprehensive meta-analysis examined neural patterns of emotion regulation in clinical populations versus healthy controls.

Main Results:

• Emotion regulation overlapped with RDoC domains, particularly cognitive and social ones, but showed distinct neural patterns involving the inferior and medial frontal gyri.
• The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex was consistently implicated in emotion regulation across various psychiatric disorders.
• These findings support emotion regulation's unique neural underpinnings within the RDoC framework and across disorders.

Conclusions:

• Emotion regulation demonstrates a distinct neural basis, supporting its designation as a transdiagnostic construct.
• The consistent involvement of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex across disorders highlights its importance in emotion regulation.
• Recognizing emotion regulation's transdiagnostic nature can refine diagnostic criteria and inform tailored treatment strategies for improved mental health outcomes.