The Neurological Basis and Potential Modification of Emotional Intelligence through Affective/Behavioral Training
Abstract
Enter a brief (approximately 200 words) unclassified summary of the most significant finding during the research period. Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to accurately perceive, understand, and use emotional information toward adaptive functioning. The goal of the present study is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging to define the neural circuitry underlying EI in order to establish a foundation for the development of programs to train or enhance this capacity in military personnel. During the first year of this study, all necessary administrative and logistical procedures have been completed, recruitment has been initiated, and 13 (22% of expected sample) participants have completed fMRI and EI testing. Preliminary data analyses support our initial hypothesis that higher EI is associated with greater neural efficiency of affective processing regions (i.e., less activation in the amygdala, insula, medial prefrontal cortex), and greater acuity of responses within these regions to biologically/socially relevant stimuli (e.g., facial trustworthiness; facial displays of anger) presented subliminally. Furthermore, the responsiveness of these regions to subliminal stimulation correlates positively with accuracy on conscious affect discrimination/decision tasks. These preliminary findings suggest that EI is a measurable capacity with an identifiable pattern of neural circuitry. Once mapped, this neurocircuitry will provide the basis for designing studies to develop and enhance EI capacities among military personnel.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA564537
Entities
People
- William D. Killgore