Researchers from the Hebrew University and Ben Gurion University of the Negev have shown that computerized cognitive training can be used to reduce the tendency to rumination (mental arousal).
Researchers from the Hebrew University and Ben Gurion University of the Negev have shown that computerized cognitive training can be used to reduce the tendency to rumination (mental arousal).
The study, recently published in the scientific journal Clinical Psychological Science, found that a workout that lasts only half an hour can reduce the ruminative thoughts that arise following the recall of an unpleasant experience.
Most people experience periods in their lives where they return again and again to the same negative thoughts, which started after an unpleasant event they had experienced. This type of thoughts is called "rumination" in the language, and in a simple translation: mental stimulation.
Many are not aware that rumination does not contribute to coping and that people with a tendency to rumination are at risk of developing depression and other mental difficulties. Can these thoughts be made to disappear or at least be reduced? Can we stop this broken record in our heads?
The new study was conducted by research student Noga Cohen from the Department of Psychology at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Dr. Neely Moore from the Hebrew University, and Prof. Avishai Hanik from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. In the first phase of the study, volunteers were assigned to two groups - an experimental group and a control group. Subjects in both groups underwent training in which they were required to perform a simple task, which is known for its ability to mobilize cognitive control - a mechanism that allows ignoring distractions during goal-oriented behavior (such as driving on a busy road). The training was developed following the researchers' previous findings, which showed that the mobilization of cognitive control reduces the harmful effects of high emotional arousal. Accordingly, subjects in the experimental group were required to exercise cognitive control before the presentation of negative pictures often, while the subjects of the control group were required to exercise cognitive control before the presentation of negative pictures, only rarely.
In the second phase of the study, subjects in both groups were asked to recall a negative event that made them feel regret or disappointment in themselves. After recording the event, the subjects were asked to answer a questionnaire that tested the degree of rumination they did immediately after recalling the event, using questions such as - "Right now I can't stop thinking about what happened", "Right now I'm asking myself why this happened to me". In the third phase of the experiment, the subjects answered a questionnaire designed to assess their personal level of rumination, i.e. the extent to which they engage in ruminative thoughts in their daily lives.
As expected, subjects in the experimental group reported fewer ruminative thoughts compared to subjects in the control group. The researchers also found that the more subjects in the control group had a higher personality tendency to rumination, the more negative mood they experienced during the experiment. This relationship did not exist in the experimental group. That is, the training caused the cancellation of the relationship between the tendency to rumination and a negative mood.
The results of this work demonstrate that short computer training can reduce the tendency to sink into negative thoughts when we recall an unpleasant event. This research can pave the way for the development of a simple and accessible intervention for people suffering from emotional difficulties and mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Dr. Neely Moore: "The line of research that I have been engaged in for years is an attempt to understand what causes people to rumination, and what causes people to go so deep inside. This is a phenomenon for which it is important to find a solution. There is a real possibility here, through cognitive training, to get out of such a negative circle."
Dr. Noga Cohen: "The studies I did as part of my doctoral thesis taught me that it is possible to prevent emotional stimuli, even those perceived as extremely negative, from affecting our behavior, physiology, and brain activity. The fact that we were able to train this mechanism and influence the way people deal with an unpleasant experience is extremely significant and I believe that this training will help people suffering from emotional difficulties in the future.
