Cognitive reappraisal—rethinking the meaning of stressors—is a fundamental strategy people use to regulate their emotions. This approach supports adaptive, goal-oriented behavior and contributes to psychological well-being. Meta-analyses of fMRI studies have identified robust brain networks involved in reappraisal processes, but there is still limited evidence on how differences in brain activity relate to individual variations in the ability or tendency to use cognitive reappraisal. Moving from within-person to between-person associations is a critical step in building strong, interpretable neurobiological models of emotion regulation, which could serve as a transdiagnostic marker for various psychological disorders.

 

Key Research Questions:

1. How do brain networks involved in cognitive reappraisal relate to individual differences? These projects aim to quantify the relationship between reappraisal-related brain networks and individual capabilities or tendencies to use cognitive reappraisal effectively.

2. Can we identify neural markers for reappraisal tendencies across individuals? By focusing on between-person differences, we hope to uncover whether specific patterns of brain activity are predictive of how well individuals regulate emotions through reappraisal.