| Title | Working memory training improves emotion regulation ability: Evidence from HRV. | ||
| Author | Xiu, Lichao; Zhou, Renlai; Jiang, Yihan | ||
| Journal | Physiol Behav | Publication Year/Month | 2016-Mar |
| PMID | 26679738 | PMCID | -N/A- |
| Affiliation + expend | 1.Beijing Key Lab of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China. | ||
Emotion regulation during social situations plays a pivotal role in health and interpersonal functioning. In this study, we propose a working memory training approach to improve emotion regulation ability. This training promotes an updating function that is a crucial modulated process for emotion regulation. In the present study, the participants in the training group completed a running memory task over 20 days of training. Their working memory capability and high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) data on pretest and posttest were assessed and analyzed. Compared with the control group, the training group\'s reaction time in the 2-back working memory task was reduced significantly. In addition, the HF-HRV in the emotion regulation condition was increased after the 20-day training, which indicates that the working memory training effect could transfer to emotion regulation. In other words, working memory training improved emotion regulation ability.