Cited by 1,033Neural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeurobiology of Language and Bilingualism

Neural correlates of conscious self-regulation of emotion

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Beauregard, Mario, Lévesque, Johanne, Bourgouin, Pierre·2001·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

A fundamental question about the relationship between cognition and emotion concerns the neural substrate underlying emotional self-regulation. To address this issue, brain activation was measured in normal male subjects while they either responded in a normal manner to erotic film excerpts or voluntarily attempted to inhibit the sexual arousal induced by viewing erotic stimuli. Results demonstrated that the sexual arousal experienced, in response to the erotic film excerpts, was associated with activation in "limbic" and paralimbic structures, such as the right amygdala, right anterior temporal pole, and hypothalamus. In addition, the attempted inhibition of the sexual arousal generated by viewing the erotic stimuli was associated with activation of the right superior frontal gyrus and right anterior cingulate gyrus. No activation was found in limbic areas. These findings reinforce the view that emotional self-regulation is normally implemented by a neural circuit comprising various prefrontal regions and subcortical limbic structures. They also suggest that humans have the capacity to influence the electrochemical dynamics of their brains, by voluntarily changing the nature of the mind processes unfolding in the psychological space.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.21-18-j0001.2001

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  • The increased prefrontal cortical activation in beginner meditators relative to experienced meditators resembles brain activation patterns found during voluntary regulation of emotion.

    “This increased prefrontal cortical activation detected for beginner meditators, relative to experienced meditators, resembles to a notable extent brain activation patterns found during voluntary regulation of emotion (Beauregard et al., 2001;Levesque et al., 2003;Ochsner et al., 2002;Ochsner and Gross, 2005).”

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  1. [15]15. Lane RD, Nadel L (2000) Cognitive neuroscience of emotion. New York: Oxford UP.

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Authors
Beauregard, M., Lévesque, J., & Bourgouin, P.
Affiliations
  • Hôpital Notre-Dame (CA)
  • Université de Montréal (CA)
Corresponding author
Beauregard, Mario
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2001-09-15
Volume
21
Issue
18
Pages
RC165-RC165
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2161447862
Cited by
1,033
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 48 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 54 · 2014: 55 · 2013: 67 · 2012: 65
FWCI
14.50
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
Keywords
emotion regulation, sexual arousal, amygdala, anterior temporal pole, hypothalamus, anterior cingulate cortex, superior frontal gyrus, prefrontal control, limbic system, neural correlates
MeSH terms
Adult, Behavior, Brain, Brain Mapping, Consciousness, Emotions, Erotica, Humans, Limbic System, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Neural Inhibition, Neurons, Oxygen, Repression, Psychology, Subtraction Technique, Volition, Prefrontal Cortex, Sexuality

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