Emotion Regulation Assessment: A New Perspective Using Simultaneous Electroencephalographic and Electrodermal Recordings.

Abstract

Recognized as a transdiagnostic factor, emotion regulation (ER) is increasingly embedded into conceptualizations of psychopathology development and maintenance, emerging as a core component of treatment methodologies. Therefore, the incorporation of ER into various facets of affective sciences, including theoretical frameworks, experimental paradigms, assessment methods, and intervention strategies, raises new challenges, particularly regarding the measurement of ER. In the evaluation and understanding of complex, multifaceted processes like ER, the combination of different assessment methods encompassing diverse units of analysis across multiple domains encompassing cerebral, physiological, and behavioral measures can prove particularly interesting. Among these approaches, the concurrent recording of electroencephalographic (EEG) and electrodermal activity (EDA) emerges as a promising strategy, enabling a more holistic exploration of the ER process at both central and peripheral levels. This brief paper aims to explore current literature concerning the utilization of EEG and EDA in the investigation of ER and to bring arguments supporting their simultaneous recording in order to gain a better understanding of ER processes.