The neural mechanisms of emotional flexibility influenced by the emotional valence shift direction and preparation effect

Abstract

Emotional flexibility refers to an individual's ability to change emotional responses in constantly changing environments to adapt to different situations. This study aims to use the Emotional Switching Task (EST) paradigm, combined with Electroencephalogram (EEG) technology and behavioral experiments, to explore the impact of emotional valence shift directions and preparation effects on the switching cost of emotional flexibility. The results found that when individuals switch from positive emotional valence to positive emotional valence, the switching cost is smaller than other transition directions. In addition, emotional flexibility exhibits a preparation effect, with a 2000 ms preparation time resulting in a smaller switching cost than a 600 ms preparation time. The electrophysiological data, more specifically the N2, CNV, SPN and LPP components, reveal the neural mechanisms by which emotional valence shift direction and preparation time influence emotional flexibility across the three neural computational stages of emotion regulation. This study is beneficial for establishing a potential mechanism model for the switching cost of emotional flexibility.