title: Developmental changes in neural correlates of cognitive reappraisal: An ERP study using the late positive potential.
abstract: The reduction of the amplitude of the late positive potential (LPP) following cognitive reappraisal has been used as a neural marker of emotion regulation. However, studies employing this neural marker in children are scarce and findings are not conclusive, with most studies showing a lack of LPP modulation after reappraisal in children in the age range of 5-12 years. The aim of the current study was therefore to investigate developmental changes in sensitivity of LPP modulation to cognitive reappraisal. To do so, LPP modulation due to cognitive reappraisal of negative pictures was compared between two age groups (8- to 11- versus 12- to 15-year-olds) and regression analyses were applied within the total sample to test whether sensitivity of LPP modulation shows a linear increase with age.
  
  
  
  In 63 children the LPP was measured after negative pictures that were either combined with a negative story or with a neutral, reappraising story.
  
  
  
  Although groups did not differ for self-reports on reappraisal, a significant reduction of LPP following cognitive reappraisal was only found in the older children, whereas such an effect was absent in the younger children. Findings were similar for boys and girls. Additional analyses showed a linear increase in sensitivity of LPP modulation with age.
  
  
  
  The results indicate that LPP modulation as measured in the current paradigm can be used as a valid index of emotion regulation in boys and girls but that caution is recommended using it in younger children.
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Henri Dunantlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: valerie.vancauwenberge@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Van Cauwenberge
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Department of Parenting and Special Education, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32 - bus3765, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: karla.vanleeuwen@kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Van Leeuwen
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Kapucijnenvoer 35 blok d - bus7001, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: karel.hoppenbrouwers@kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoppenbrouwers
authors.affiliation: Ghent University, Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Henri Dunantlaan 2, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: roeljan.wiersema@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Jan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wiersema
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D000066498:Emotional Adjustment / Q000502:physiology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D057566:Self Report; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Children; Emotion regulation; Late positive potential (LPP); Neural marker