Compassion-based emotion regulation up-regulates experienced positive affect and associated neural networks

May combine two claims.

Both Compassion and Reappraisal decreased negative and increased positive affect relative to the Negative-Watch condition, demonstrating their efficacy at regulating affective states.

“Further comparisons revealed that both Compassion and Reappraisal decreased negative [Compassion: (m ¼ À56.13, SE ¼ 10.37), t(882) ¼ À5.41, P < 0.001); Reappraisal: (m ¼ À54.74, SE ¼ 9.71), t(882) ¼ À5.64, P < 0.001] and increased positive affect [Compassion: (m ¼ 101, SE ¼ 11,89), t(882) ¼ 8.50, P < 0.001; Reappraisal: m ¼ À97.82, SE ¼ 10.37), t(882) ¼ À9.43, P < 0.001] relative to the Negative-W”

May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

During the implementation phase, Compassion relative to Watch-Negative showed substantial activations in medial PFC including vmPFC and mOFC, genual ACC and SMA, left dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal regions, SMG/TPJ, posterior cingulate, temporal gyri, cerebellum, and subcortical VS including NACC, globus pallidus, caudate, putamen, hypothalamus and right amygdala.

“In the Implementation phase (Figure 2B), substantial activations were observed in medial PFC, including vmPFC and mOFC, as well as genual ACC and SMA.Left dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal activations were again observed, including middle and superior frontal gyrii (SFG), as well as the orbital portion of the triangular and orbital IFG.”

May combine two claims.

Positive and negative emotion ratings showed a significant main effect of Condition for both Positive [F(3, 882) = 26.66, P < 0.001] and Negative [F(3, 882) = 176.10, P < 0.001] ratings.

“This revealed a significant main effect of Condition for both Positive [F(3, 882) ¼ 26.66, P < 0.001] and Negative [F(3, 882) ¼ 176.10,P < 0.001] ratings.”

May combine two claims.

The Negative-Watch condition elicited significantly more negative and significantly less positive affect than the Neutral-Watch condition, demonstrating successful emotion induction.

“These revealed that the Negative-Watch condition elicited significantly more negative [m ¼ 191.19,SE ¼ 8.47), t(882) ¼ 22.58, P < 0.001] and significantly less positive [m ¼ À54.74, SE ¼ 9.71, t(882) ¼ À5.64, P < 0.001] affect than the Neutral-Watch condition, demonstrating successful emotion induction.”

The quote only partly states this claim.

During the preparation phase, Compassion relative to Watch-Negative showed activations in lateral frontal regions, parietal lobules, medial frontopolar/mOFC/vmPFC, pgACC/sgACC, PCC, thalamus, hypothalamus, VS, and cerebellum.

“In the preparation phase (Figure 2A), activations were observed laterally in frontal regions, including middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and triangular/orbital junction of the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), sup- plementary motor area (SMA), as well as superior and inferor parietal lobules.”

May combine two claims.

In the preparation phase, Compassion relative to Reappraisal showed higher activation primarily in medial frontal regions including vmPFC/gyrus rectus, pgACC, sgACC, dorsal ACC/SMA, precuneus, bilateral STG and right IFG/operculum ranging into mid-insula; Reappraisal showed higher activation in posterior and polar MTG, posterior cingulate/precuneus and cerebellum.

“In the Preparation phase (Figure 3A), higher activation was found for the Compassion condition primarily in medial frontal regions, including vmPFC/gyrus rectus, pgACC, sgACC, dorsal ACC/SMA, precuneus.Additional activations were observed in bilateral superior temporal gyrus (STG) and right IFG/operculum ranging into mid-insula.In contrast, higher activation for the Reappraisal condition was found”

May combine two claims.

In the Compassion condition, VS/NAC signal was higher and amygdala signal was lower relative to the Watch-Negative condition.

“Follow-up t-tests showed that this effect consisted of higher signal in the VS/NAC [t(312) ¼ 3.32, P ¼ < 0.001] and lower signal [t(342) ¼ À2.17, P ¼ < 0.05] in the amygdala ROIs relative to the Watch-Negative condition.”

May combine two claims.

Compassion relied primarily on activation of medial and subcortical systems, with strongest differentiation in mOFC and VS/NACC.

“Contrary to this, Compassion was shown to rely primarily on activation of the aforementioned medial and subcortical systems, with the strongest differentiation observable in mOFC and VS/NACC (Figure 3).”

May combine two claims.

Compassion increased positive affect above Watch-Neutral baseline, whereas Reappraisal did not.

“Importantly, unlike Reappraisal, Compassion occasioned an increase of positive affect relative to baseline levels of positivity (Watch-Neutral).”

• Also stated in: § CONCLUSION · plain

  “only Compassion increased positive affect above the Watch-Neutral condition [Compassion: (m ¼ 46.28, SE ¼ 11.89), t(882) ¼ 3.89, P < 0.001; Reappraisal: (m ¼ À4.01, SE ¼ 11.89), t(882) ¼ À0.34, P > 0.1]”

May combine two claims.

While both Compassion and Reappraisal decreased activation of amygdala relative to Watch-Negative, only Compassion increased activation of VS/NAC.

“Thus, while both Compassion and Reappraisal was shown to decrease activation of amygdala relative to Watch-Negative, only Compassion was shown to increase activation of VS/ NAC.”

May combine two claims.

Both Compassion and Reappraisal effectively, but differentially regulated experienced affect, with Compassion primarily increasing positive and Reappraisal primarily decreasing negative affect.

“Both strategies effectively, but differentially regulated experienced affect, with Compassion primarily increasing positive and Reappraisal primarily decreasing negative affect.”

May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

In the implementation phase, Compassion relative to Reappraisal showed increased activation in medial PFC including vmPFC, mOFC, sgACC, pgACC, frontopolar cortex, bilateral SMA and mid-cingulate, bilateral operculum/mid-insula, STG, precuneus, right fusiform gyrus, and subcortically NACC/VS, bilateral amygdala, hypothalamus, caudate, globus pallidus, putamen, right hippocampus and ventral anterior

“For the Implementation phase (Figure 3B), increased activation was found for the Compassion condition in medial PFC, including vmPFC, mOFC, sgACC, pgACC, frontopolar cortex, bilateral SMA and mid-cingulate.Laterally, activations were observed in bilateral operculum/mid-insula, STG, precuneus and right fusiform gyrus.Subcortically, activations were observed in NACC/VS, bilateral amygdala,”

May combine two claims.

Both Compassion and Reappraisal decreased negative affect, with Reappraisal decreasing it significantly more.

“Both compassion and Reappraisal decreased negative affect, though Reappraisal did so significantly more.”

May combine two claims.

For VS/NAC, there was a main effect of Condition and a Condition*Period interaction effect.

“For the VS/NAC, this revealed a main effect of Condition, [F(1, 312) ¼ 11.16, P < 0.001] as well as a Condition* Period interaction effect [F(1, 312) ¼ 3.96, P < 0.05].”

May combine two claims.

All meditators had participated in at least one 3-year full-time retreat at the same institution, in which they practiced these techniques and underwent instruction by the same teachers, ensuring homogenous and expert implementation of Compassion.

“Further, all meditators had participated in at least one 3-year full-time retreat at the same institution, in which they practiced these techniques and underwent instruction by the same teachers.This ensured homogenous and expert implementation of Compassion allowing us to describe the workings of the technique at its optimum.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Positive Reappraisal was chosen to ensure comparability with Compassion in terms of regulatory goal.

“We chose to use positive Reappraisal to ensure comparability of with Compassion in terms of regulatory goal.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Trait use of Reappraisal is a predictor of psychological well-being and resilience.

“Furthermore, trait use of Reappraisal is a predictor of psychological well-being and resilience (McRae et al., 2012b;Min et al., 2013).”

• cites McRae et al., 2012bNot checked yet

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• cites Min et al., 2013 sourceNot checked yet

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May combine two claims.

The default response pattern to stimuli depicting individuals in distress is negative affect, presumably stemming from empathic distress reactions.

“From previous work (Klimecki et al., 2013a,b) we know that the default response pattern to such stimuli is negative affect, presumably stemming from empathic distress reactions (Condon and Feldman Barrett, 2013), and that training is needed in order to generate loving-kindness and compassion when confronted with others' suffering.”

• cites Condon and Feldman Barrett, 2013Not checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

Compassion is an appropriate regulation strategy in contexts where emotional connection is important since it does not involve the alteration of one's emotional reactions to stressors directly, but rather the countergeneration of a positive affective state.

“These qualities suggest the appropriateness of Compassion as a regulation strategy in contexts where emotional connection is important since it does not involve the alteration of ones emotional reactions to stressors directly, but rather the countergeneration of a positive affective state.”

May combine two claims.

The socio-affective video task has previously been successfully used in Compassion research and is optimized to elicit extended negative affect of a social nature.

“This task has previously been successfully used in previous Compassion research and is optimized to elicit extended negative affect of a social nature.”

• cites Klimecki et al., 2014 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

A finite impulse response deconvolution approach was used to ensure robustness of the analyses in the face of potential differences in temporal dynamics of the conditions.

“To ensure robustness of the analyses in the face of potential differences in temporal dynamics of the conditions, a finite impulse response deconvolution approach was used.”

May combine two claims.

The neural implementation of Compassion and Reappraisal appears to mirror their conceptual differences, in that Compassion involves the volitional endogenous generation of an emotional and motivational state rather than alteration of exogenously triggered states through cognitive control and self-regulation, as seen in Reappraisal.

“As such, the neural implementation of Compassion and Reappraisal appears to mirror their conceptual differences, in that Compassion involves the volitional endogenous generation of an emotional and motivational state rather than alteration of exogenously triggered states through cognitive control and self-regulation, as seen in Reappraisal.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Reappraisal is effective across a wide range of different emotional stimuli and contexts.

“This strategy, most frequently called Reappraisal, has been shown to be effective across a wide range of different emotional stimuli and contexts (Gross, 2014).”

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Meditation experience was estimated at a cumulative total of 40,000 ± 9,000 h (range 10,000-62,000 h).

“Meditation experience was assessed through semi-structured interviews, showing an estimated cumulative total of 40 000 Æ 9000 h of meditation (range ¼ 10 000-62 000 h).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Compassion-meditation involves the initial generation of an emotional state of loving-kindness through directed imagery emphasizing positive emotional qualities of warmth, care and other-related concern, which can then be applied to the suffering of others, turning the initial state of loving-kindness into one of compassion.

“Concretely, Compassionmeditation involves the initial generation of an emotional state of loving-kindness through directed imagery emphasizing positive emotional qualities of warmth, care and other-related concern.Once this emotional state is achieved it can then be applied to the suffering of others, turning the initial state of loving-kindness into one of compassion (Singer and Klimecki, 2014).”

• cites Singer and Klimecki, 2014 sourceNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The stimuli were short film clips (10-12 s; 40 negative and 20 neutral) taken from the previously validated SoVT stimulus set.

“The stimuli were short film clips (10-12 s in length; 40 negative and 20 neutral stimuli) taken from the previously validated SoVT stimulus set (for details see Klimecki et al., 2013a).”

• cites Klimecki et al., 2013aNot checked yet

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Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

As controlled breathing is a key component of meditation, potential respiratory artifacts and confounds were accounted for by despiking the data and removing the run-specific global signal for each voxel.

“As controlled breathing is a key component of meditation, we accounted for potential respiratory artifacts and confounds by despiking the data using the ArtRepair toolbox (version 4, http:// cibsr.stanford.edu/tools/human-brain-project/artrepair-software.html) and removing the run-specific global signal for each voxel (Macey et al., 2004) in line with previous work (e.g.Farb et al., 2013).”

• cites Macey et al., 2004 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Farb et al., 2013 sourceNot checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Multiple comparisons were controlled for using cluster-level FWE correction at < 0.05 (T > 3.36, P = 0.001, k > 30) as determined by AFNI's AlphaSim Monte Carlo simulation method.

“Multiple comparisons were controlled for using cluster-level FWE correction at < 0.05 (T > 3.36, P ¼ 0.001, k > 30) as determined by AFNI's AlphaSim Monte Carlo simulation method.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Stimulus and session order were counterbalanced across subjects.

“Stimulus and session order were counterbalanced across subjects.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

Reappraisal involves discounting negative information as it is perceived and substituting a more positive interpretation.

“One explanation for this is that Reappraisal involves discounting negative information as it is perceived, and substituting a more positive interpretation.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Training in Compassion-meditation aims at enabling the individual to volitionally generate states of compassion, allowing them to encounter the suffering of others while maintaining a positive emotional state of benevolence, warmth and concern and a motivation to help.

“Training in Compassion-meditation aims at enabling the individual to volitionally generate states of compassion, allowing them to encounter the suffering of others while maintaining a positive emotional state of benevolence, warmth and concern and a motivation to help (Lutz et al., 2008;Klimecki et al., 2013a;Kok et al., 2013).”

• cites Lutz et al., 2008 sourceNot checked yet

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• cites Klimecki et al., 2013aNot checked yet

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• cites Kok et al., 2013 sourceNot checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

To ensure homogeneity in strategy execution, subjects were asked to describe each strategy in their own words prior to the start of training and to describe in detail exactly how they implemented the strategy after each practice trial, with misunderstandings corrected when apparent.

“To ensure homogeneity in strategy execution, subjects were asked to describe each strategy in their own words prior to the start of training and to describe in detail exactly how they implemented the strategy after each practice trial, with misunderstandings corrected when apparent.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

The fronto-parietal network regions (ventral/dorsal PFC, dACC, TPJ/SMG) are known to be associated with cognitive control, attention regulation, and working memory.

“regions known to be associated with cognitive control, attention regulation and working memory (Ochsner et al., 2012).”

• cites Ochsner et al., 2012 sourceNot checked yet

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May combine two claims.

The different activation patterns reflect that Reappraisal involves cognitive control to modulate affective influences, whereas Compassion involves generation of positive affect without altering processing of negative stimuli.

“These different activation patterns appear to reflect the conceptual difference between Reappraisal and Compassion: Reappraisal involves the employment of cognitive control to modulate affective influences, whereas Compassion involves the generation of positive affect, without altering the processing of negative stimuli.”

May combine two claims.

Compassion is an effective regulation strategy and a key mechanism is engagement of neural systems associated with positive affect.

“Overall, these results are consistent with previous findings (Klimecki et al., 2013a,b), demonstrating that Compassion is an effective regulation strategy and that a key mechanism underlying these regulatory effects is the engagement of neural systems associated with positive affect.”

• cites Klimecki et al., 2013a,bNot checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

All P-values were Bonferroni corrected.

“All P-values Bonferroni corrected.”

May combine two claims.

Compassion can be employed as an effective emotion regulation strategy outside of its traditional meditative context, and both experientially and neurally it is associated with endogenous generation of positive affect.

“In this study, we showed that Compassion can be employed as an effective emotion regulation strategy outside of its traditional meditative context, and that both experientially and neurally, it is associated with the endogenous generation of positive affect.”

May combine two claims.

Using Compassion as a coping strategy in helping professions would have an additional beneficial effect: it would increase resilience and increase willingness to assist individuals in need.

“suggesting an additional beneficial effect if used as coping strategy in helping professions as it would not only increase resilience but also increase their willingness to assist individuals in need.”

May combine two claims.

Compassion might be an effective means to promote resilience to others' suffering also in the general population while promoting emotional connectedness and pro-sociality.

“This suggests that Compassion might be an effective means to promote resilience to others' suffering also in the general population while at the same time promoting emotional connectedness and pro-sociality.”

May combine two claims.

Compassion's capacity to be employed independently of specific stimuli and its mechanism not involving attenuation/alteration of negative emotional responses potentially affords it unique advantages as an emotion regulation strategy.

“The capacity to be employed independently of specific stimuli and an underlying mechanism not involving attenuation or alteration of negative emotional responses potentially affords Compassion some unique advantages as an emotion regulation strategy.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Bilateral mid-insula is previously associated with affiliative types of positive affect, such as maternal love.

“a region previously associated with specifically affiliative types of positive affect, such as maternal love (Bartels and Zeki, 2004).”

• cites Bartels and Zeki, 2004 sourceNot checked yet

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May combine two claims.

In the context of others' suffering, Compassion affords maintenance of an empathic connection while counteracting empathic distress.

“In the context of others' suffering, Compassion affords maintenance of an empathic connection while counteracting empathic distress (Singer and Klimecki, 2014).”

• cites Singer and Klimecki, 2014 sourceNot checked yet

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Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

All results were thresholded at FWEc < 0.05 as determined by AFNI's AlphaSim (P < 0.001, extent threshold = 30 voxels).

“All results thresholded at FWEc < 0.05 as determined by AFNI's AlphaSim (P < 0.001, extent threshold ¼ 30 voxels).”

• Also stated in: § CONCLUSION · plain

  “All results thresholded at FWEc < 0.05 as determined by AFNI's AlphaSim (P < 0.001, extent threshold ¼ 30 voxels).”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Our findings are largely consistent with earlier work on short-term effects of Compassion training by Klimecki et al. (2013a,b).

“Our findings are largely consistent with earlier work on short-term effects of Compassion training by Klimecki et al. (2013a,b).”

• cites Klimecki et al., 2013a,bNot checked yet

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