SGER: A Social Cognitive Neuroscience Approach to the Regulation of Self, Emotion and Thought

Stanford University, Stanford CA

Investigators

Abstract

Three studies will be conducted using functional magnetic resonance imaging to test hypotheses about psychological processes and neural systems that support self-regulation. The first experiment targets the ability to regulate the self-concept in response to an ego threat by either self-enhancing or changing an attitude. The second experiment targets the ability to regulate emotion through suppression of an emotional response or reappraisal of an affective stimulus. The third experiment targets the ability to regulate thought through the suppression or expression of target cognitions. Together, these studies will provide new insight on the common and distinct neurofunctional systems used to regulate the self-concept, emotion, and thought.