A study published in Nature reveals that three widely used measures of cognitive reappraisal — trait questionnaires, task-based affective ratings, and amygdala down-regulation — do not agree with each other, casting doubt on how this key emotional regulation ability is assessed. The findings undermine confidence in a foundational concept behind cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This highlights the broader challenge of publishing negative or null results in science.
Background
Cognitive reappraisal is a core mechanism in cognitive behavioral therapy, involving the reinterpretation of emotionally challenging situations to reduce their negative impact. The amygdala, a brain region tied to emotional processing, has long been studied as a neural marker of reappraisal success.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Nov 3, 2026 at 03:13 AM
- Score
- 5.0 / 10