Most of our measures of a key cognitive process don't agree
Summary
An international research collaboration found that common measures of cognitive reappraisal—the process of rethinking an upsetting situation to reduce its emotional impact—do not reliably track the same ability. The findings raise questions about how researchers measure a process used in cognitive behavioral therapy and linked to emotional resilience.Key Facts
- The study compared trait questionnaires, ratings after reappraisal tasks, and changes in amygdala activity during reappraisal.
- Researchers analyzed 40 functional MRI data sets.
- The measured brain effect was small; the researchers estimated that a single study would need 1,105 participants for 80 percent statistical power to detect it.
- Individual differences across the questionnaires, task ratings, and brain measures showed little correlation.
- The amygdala is a brain structure that often responds to emotional events.
- The article says activity in the amygdala correlated with activity in brain areas involved in higher-level decision-making.
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