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Review
. 2023 Apr;27(4):379-390.
doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2023.01.008. Epub 2023 Feb 15.

Sensory emotion regulation

Micaela Rodriguez  1 , Ethan Kross  2
Affiliations
Review

Sensory emotion regulation

Micaela Rodriguez et al. Trends Cogn Sci. 2023 Apr.

Abstract

Decades of evidence reveal intimate links between sensation and emotion. Yet, discussion of sensory experiences as tools that promote emotion regulation is largely absent from current theorizing on this topic. Here, we address this gap by integrating evidence from social-personality, clinical, cognitive-neuroscience, and animal research to highlight the role of sensation as a tool that can be harnessed to up- or downregulate emotion. Further, we review evidence implicating sensation as a rapid and relatively effortless emotion regulation modality and highlight future research directions. Notably, we emphasize the need to examine the duration of sensory emotion regulation effects, the moderating role of individual and cultural differences, and how sensory strategies interact with other strategies.

Keywords: emotion; emotion regulation; sensation; sensory experiences; stress; wellbeing.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests No interests are declared.

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