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Holmer E, Rönnberg J, Asutay E, Tirado C, Ekberg M. Facial mimicry interference reduces working memory accuracy for facial emotion expressions. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306113. [PMID: 38924006 PMCID: PMC11207140 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Facial mimicry, the tendency to imitate facial expressions of other individuals, has been shown to play a critical role in the processing of emotion expressions. At the same time, there is evidence suggesting that its role might change when the cognitive demands of the situation increase. In such situations, understanding another person is dependent on working memory. However, whether facial mimicry influences working memory representations for facial emotion expressions is not fully understood. In the present study, we experimentally interfered with facial mimicry by using established behavioral procedures, and investigated how this interference influenced working memory recall for facial emotion expressions. Healthy, young adults (N = 36) performed an emotion expression n-back paradigm with two levels of working memory load, low (1-back) and high (2-back), and three levels of mimicry interference: high, low, and no interference. Results showed that, after controlling for block order and individual differences in the perceived valence and arousal of the stimuli, the high level of mimicry interference impaired accuracy when working memory load was low (1-back) but, unexpectedly, not when load was high (2-back). Working memory load had a detrimental effect on performance in all three mimicry conditions. We conclude that facial mimicry might support working memory for emotion expressions when task load is low, but that the supporting effect possibly is reduced when the task becomes more cognitively challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil Holmer
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jerker Rönnberg
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Linnaeus Centre HEAD, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Erkin Asutay
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- JEDI Lab, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Carlos Tirado
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Mattias Ekberg
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Zhang Y, Boemo T, Qiao Z, Tan Y, Li X. Distinct Effects of Anxiety and Depression on Updating Emotional Information in Working Memory. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:544. [PMID: 36612866 PMCID: PMC9819093 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety and depression have been shown to negatively influence the processing of emotional information in working memory. However, most studies have examined anxiety-related or depression-related working memory deficits independently, without considering their high co-morbidity. We tested the effects of emotional valence on working memory performance among healthy young adults with varying levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Ninety young adults aged between 18-24 (51 female) completed an emotional 2-back task in which positive, negative, and neutral images were presented. Multi-level modeling was used to examine anxiety and depressive symptoms as predictors of response accuracy and latency across the three emotional valence conditions. The results showed that participants responded to negative images with the highest accuracy and to positive images with the lowest accuracy. Both negative and positive images elicited slower responses than neutral images. Importantly, we found that more severe anxiety symptoms predicted a smaller difference in response accuracy between negative and neutral stimuli, whereas more severe depressive symptoms predicted a larger updating reaction time difference between positive and neutral stimuli. These findings demonstrated the uniquely anxiety-related deficits in processing negative contents and the uniquely depression-related deficits in updating positive contents in working memory, thus highlighting the necessity of novel cognitive bias modification interventions targeting the anxiety-specific and depression-specific deficits in working memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Teresa Boemo
- Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Zhiling Qiao
- Department of Neuroscience, Research Group Psychiatry, Center for Clinical Psychiatry, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yafei Tan
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Xu Li
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China
- School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Key Laboratory of Human Development and Mental Health of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430079, China
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Chen L, Wang Q, Xu T. Working memory function in patients with major depression disorder: A narrative review. Clin Psychol Psychother 2022; 30:281-293. [PMID: 36510396 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Working memory (WM) deficits are recognized as serious cognitive impairment in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). This review aims to clarify the effects of impaired WM function in patients with MDD and explore non-invasive and effective treatments that can be adopted in clinical practice. This review (1) synthesizes extant literature examining brain function and brain areas in terms of WM in individuals with depression, (2) utilizes the outcomes of the studies presented in this review to discuss the effects of impaired WM function on cognitive processing in individuals with depression, (3) integrates the treatments explored in current studies and (4) provides some suggestions for future research. We found that (1) central executive (CE) components affect the processing of WM, and this might be one of the factors influencing cognitive biases, as it is implicated in repetitive negative thinking and rumination; (2) the left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the regions of the default mode network (DMN) play a vital role in CE functioning; and (3) psychotherapy, cognitive training, exercise and physical therapy can be used as complementary treatments for MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijie Chen
- School of Medical Humanities, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Tianchao Xu
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
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Royuela-Colomer E, Wante L, Orue I, Braet C, Mueller SC. Comparing emotional working memory in adolescents and young adults with and without depressive symptoms: developmental and psychopathological differences. BMC Psychol 2022; 10:134. [PMID: 35614497 PMCID: PMC9131646 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-022-00836-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Depressive symptoms are associated with working memory impairments. Yet, comparative studies examining working memory across the developmental spectrum in depressed and non depressed cohorts are lacking. This study examined emotional working memory in 74 adolescents (mean age = 14; 21 with depressive symptoms) and 92 adults (mean age = 22; 36 with depressive symptoms). Participants completed two versions of an emotional face n-back task, and either paid attention to the valence of the emotion or the gender. Both tasks were completed at low load (0-back) and high load (2-back). In the high load condition, healthy adolescents showed a bias towards positive faces, both speeding up reaction times (RTs) when emotion was task relevant but slowing RTs when they were task irrelevant. This interaction was neither significant in adolescents with depressive symptoms nor in young adults. Depressive symptoms did not influence RTs in low load. The results indicate that adolescents with depressive symptoms might lack the bias towards positive affective material at high load WM task present in healthy adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estíbaliz Royuela-Colomer
- Department of Personality, Psychological Assessment and Treatment, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Laura Wante
- Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Izaskun Orue
- Department of Personality, Psychological Assessment and Treatment, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Caroline Braet
- Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sven C Mueller
- Department of Personality, Psychological Assessment and Treatment, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain.,Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Huang ZJ, Li FF, Zhang YT, Li X. Interaction between working memory load and the ability to resist interference from negative distractors in dysphoria. Psych J 2022; 11:285-295. [PMID: 35068070 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Although the relationship between emotional working memory (WM) and depressive symptoms has been well established in clinical samples, research in the subclinical population has produced mixed results. The present study tested the effect of WM load on control of interference from emotional (positive, negative, neutral) distractors in dysphoria. Dysphoric (n = 32) and non-dysphoric (n = 35) university students were administered the emotional 2-back (lower WM load) and 3-back (higher WM load) tasks. Results showed that resisting negative distractors was more difficult for the dysphoric group than the non-dysphoric group, but only in the 3-back task. The results demonstrate that dysphoria is associated with greater interference from negative distractors under high WM load. We conclude that both WM load and emotional valence have an effect on WM performance in dysphoria, and the poor ability to resist interference from negative distractors in WM might be a key cognitive vulnerability factor for depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Jing Huang
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior Central China Normal University (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Human Development and Mental Health Key Laboratory (Central China Normal University), School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fan-Fan Li
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior Central China Normal University (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Human Development and Mental Health Key Laboratory (Central China Normal University), School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Ting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior Central China Normal University (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Human Development and Mental Health Key Laboratory (Central China Normal University), School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xu Li
- Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior Central China Normal University (CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Human Development and Mental Health Key Laboratory (Central China Normal University), School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
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Shen Y, Li Z, Shao M, Liu Y, Zhang Y. Effects of emotional faces on working memory in adolescents with learning anxiety. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-02469-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Daming M, Xin L, Shuwen H, Pengfei G, Shuai L, Feng G, Xiaomei C, Binbin C, Hui Z. Somatization Symptoms Regulate Emotional Memory Bias in Adolescents With Major Depressive Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:656198. [PMID: 34512408 PMCID: PMC8428275 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.656198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Somatization symptoms are commonly comorbid with depression. Furthermore, people with depression and somatization have a negative memory bias. We investigated the differences in emotional memory among adolescent patients with depressive disorders, with and without functional somatization symptoms (FSS). Methods: We recruited 30 adolescents with depression and FSS, 38 adolescents with depression but without FSS, and 38 healthy participants. Emotional memory tasks were conducted to evaluate the emotional memory of the participants in the three groups. The clinical symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Children's Somatization Inventory (CSI). Results: The valence ratings and recognition accuracy rates for positive and neutral images of adolescent patients were significantly lower than those of the control group (F = 12.208, P < 0.001; F = 6.801, P < 0.05; F = 14.536, P < 0.001; F = 6.306, P < 0.05, respectively); however, the recognition accuracy rate for negative images of adolescent patients of depression without FSS was significantly lower than that of patients with FSS and control group participants (F = 10.316, P < 0.001). These differences persisted after controlling for HDRS scores. The within-group analysis revealed that patients of depression with FSS showed significantly higher recognition accuracy rates for negative images than the other types (F = 5.446, P < 0.05). The recognition accuracy rate for negative images was positively correlated with CSI scores (r = 0.352, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Therefore, emotional memory impairment exists in adolescent patients of depression and FSS are associated with negative emotional memory retention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Daming
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Li Xin
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Hu Shuwen
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Guo Pengfei
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Liu Shuai
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Geng Feng
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Cao Xiaomei
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Chen Binbin
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Zhong Hui
- Department of Psychiatry, Affiliated Psychological Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Anhui Mental Health Center, Hefei, China.,Hefei Fourth People's Hospital, Hefei, China
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Schweizer S, Parker J, Leung JT, Griffin C, Blakemore SJ. Age-related differences in affective control and its association with mental health difficulties. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 32:329-341. [PMID: 30907719 PMCID: PMC6982534 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579419000099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Difficulties in regulating affect are core characteristics of a wide range of mental health conditions and are associated with deficits in cognitive control, particularly in affective contexts, affective control. The current study explored how affective control relates to mental health over the course of adolescence. We developed an Affective Control Task, which was administered to young adolescents (11-14 years; n = 29); mid-adolescents (15-18 years; n = 31), and adults (22-30 years; n = 31). The task required individuals to sort cards according to continuously changing rules: color, number, or item type. There was a neutral condition in which items were shapes, and an affective condition, in which items were emotional facial expressions. Better affective control was associated with fewer mental health difficulties (p < .001, R2 = .15). Affective control partially accounted for the association between age group and mental health problems, z = 2.61, p = .009, Akaike information criterion = 484, with the association being strongest in young adolescents, r (27) = -.44, p = .018. Affective control further accounted for variance in the association between self-reported (but not experimental) emotion regulation and mental health (z = -3.44, p < .001, Akaike information criterion = 440). Poor affective control, especially in young adolescents, is associated with more mental health problems and higher levels of emotion regulation difficulties. Improving affective control therefore may constitute a promising target for prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Schweizer
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jenna Parker
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jovita T. Leung
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
| | - Cait Griffin
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
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