Emotion Regulation Modulates Subsequent Control of Unwanted Memories

Emotion regulation and memory control are indispensable for well-being, yet their interplay remains poorly understood. In this preregistered electroencephalogram (EEG) study, we investigated how emotion regulation influences the subsequent control of negative memories. Participants learned object-aversive scene pairings and were then instructed to either naturally watch or actively reappraise the aversive scenes. They subsequently completed an EEG-based Think/No-Think (TNT) task, where they either retrieved or suppressed the retrieval of aversive scenes in response to Think or No-Think object cues while reporting any intrusions they experienced. Different from our initial hypothesis, preregistered analyses showed that during retrieval suppression, reappraised memories were associated with larger centro-parietal P300 than watched scenes. Consistently, in the post-TNT recall test, participants recalled more details and reported lower negative emotions related to these reappraised scenes than the watched scenes. These results suggest that cognitive reappraisal may preserve the episodic content of negative memories while lessening their emotional impact during recall. This finding holds significant clinical potential, as it could enable individuals to retain valuable information from adverse experiences without being overwhelmed by distress. Additionally, it may help address reduced memory specificity in affective disorders, offering a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention.