ORIGINAL RESEARCH Neural correlates of emotional regulation while viewing films Arthur P. Shimamura & Diane E. Marian & Andrew L. Haskins Published online: 29 July 2012 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012 Abstract Negative and arousal-inducing film clips were used to assess the neural correlates of emotional expression and suppression. Compared to viewing neutral clips, both negative (disgusting) and arousal (action) clips activated primarily posterior regions in the parietal and occipital cortex when participants were instructed to express their emotions. When instructed to suppress their emotions while viewing negative clips, a broad frontoparietal network was activated that includ- ed lateral, medial, and orbital regions in the prefrontal cortex as well as lateral and medial regions of the posterior parietal cortex. The suppression of arousal clips also activated pre- frontal and parietal regions, though not to the same extent as the suppression of negative clips. The findings demonstrate the potency of using movies to engage emotional processes and highlight a broad frontoparietal network that is engaged during the suppression of negative film clips. Keywords fMRI . Neuroimaging . Emotion . Emotional regulation . Suppression . Films Introduction Movies offer an incredibly powerful means of driving men- tal processes as they unfold in time (see Shimamura in press). As scientific tools, they can capture experiences dynamically in a more naturalistic manner than typical stim- uli used in neurobehavioral research (e.g., pictures and words). Indeed, the identification of social signals (e.g., a smile or frown) is enhanced when viewed as a dynamic expression (LaBar et al. 2003). To date, few studies have investigated the neural underpinnings of affective process- ing using moving pictures, and even fewer studies have used such stimuli to address disorders of emotional expression and regulation (but see Gyurak et al. 2012). An essential feature of affect processing is the manner in which we regulate our emotions. In social settings, it is rarely the case that we express our emotions fully without some degree of suppression or regulation. Indeed, there may be dire consequences in overtly expressing our feelings, such as directing intense anger toward a boss or colleague. In such instances, it is necessary to suppress or inhibit one’ s feelings. Extensive neurocognitive research has shown that emotional regulation is mediated by regions in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), including the lateral PFC (both dorsal and ventral regions), medial PFC (including anterior cingulate gyrus), and lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). These regions are particularly involved when emotions are suppressed, diverted, or reappraised (for review, see Denny et al. 2010; Gross et al. 2011). It is thought that the PFC initiates top- down or executive control of brain regions, such as the amygdala and insula, which are thought to be involved in the generation or expression of emotion (Kober et al. 2008: Ochsner et al. 2002, 2004; Urrey et al. 2006). In studies of neurological patients with affective disor- ders, impairment in emotional regulation has been particu- larly associated with OFC damage. Indeed, since the classic case of Phineas Gage (see Macmillan 2000), problems in emotional inhibitory control have been associated with this brain region. In a study of startle responses to abrupt noises, patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration could not down-regulate responses when warned of the abrupt noise Goodkind et al. (2010). Rule et al. (2002) assessed event- related EEG potentials following abrupt noises and mild shocks and found that patients with circumscribed OFC lesions exhibited disinhibition of early sensory signals in posterior cortical regions. This finding suggests that the OFC has the capacity to modulate (i.e., suppress) incoming sensory signals. In neuroimaging studies, the neural correlates of emo- tional regulation have been assessed by manipulating task demands while viewing emotional stimuli. In one study A. P. Shimamura (*) : D. E. Marian : A. L. Haskins Department of Psychology (MC1650), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-1650, USA e-mail: aps@berkeley.edu Brain Imaging and Behavior (2013) 7:77–84 DOI 10.1007/s11682-012-9195-y