Short-term effects of activating cognitive control processes on emotional interference: an experimental study

Cognitive control is crucial for effective emotion regulation. This study investigates whether engaging cognitive control reduces emotional interference using a task frequently employed in cognitive control training procedures. In this preregistered experiment, 80 participants completed tasks varying in cognitive control demands. Emotional interference was measured by changes in reaction times in a simple discrimination task following the presentation of emotional images. Self-report data on rumination, emotion regulation difficulties, and mental distress were collected to explore moderation effects. Negative emotional stimuli increased reaction times, indicating emotional interference. However, the degree of interference did not vary with cognitive control demand, nor did self-report measures moderate this relationship. The same pattern emerged for arousal instead of emotional valence. Unlike previous findings, our results suggest that the impact of cognitive control on emotional interference may be smaller and context-dependent. Factors such as specific cognitive control processes, activation levels, and sensory modality might influence outcomes. These findings highlight the need for careful experimental designs and statistical approaches.