Females reported greater emotional intensity for negative emotion (M = 2.52, 95% CI [2.39, 2.64]) compared to positive emotion (M = 2.32, 95% CI [2.18, 2.46]), while males rated both negative (M = 2.49) and positive emotions similarly (M = 2.49).
Does sex influence the neural correlates of emotion regulation and their relationship with resting heart rate variability in healthy adults?
Sex differences in the neural correlates of emotion regulation and resting HRV appear to be driven more by emotional valence than arousal modulation, with females showing greater prefrontal cortex activation.
Effect estimate: null (95% CI null)
Absolute Event Rate: 2.32% vs 2.52%
p-value: p=<0.01
Abstract Prior studies suggest that sex differences in emotion regulation (ER) ability contribute to sex disparities in affective disorders. In behavioral studies, females rely more on maladaptive strategies to cope with emotional distress than males. Neuroimaging studies suggest that males more efficiently regulate emotion than females by showing less prefrontal cortex activity (suggesting less effort) for similar amygdala activity (similar regulation outcome). However, physiological studies involving heart rate variability (HRV) indicated that, compared with males, females have higher resting HRV, indicative of parasympathetic dominance and better control of emotion. To help resolve these apparently inconsistent findings, we examined sex differences in how resting HRV relates to brain activity while using cognitive reappraisal, one of the adaptive strategies. Based on 51 males and 49 females, we found that females showed different levels of self-rated emotional intensity and amygdala activity for negative versus positive emotions, while males did not. Females also showed greater overall prefrontal cortex activity but similar levels of amygdala activity compared to males. Sex differences in how resting HRV related to brain activity during ER were evident only during viewing or regulating positive emotion. The results suggest that sex differences in the neural correlates of ER and resting HRV might lie in valence more than arousal modulation.
Min et al. (2023) studied Emotion regulation and resting heart rate variability (n=100). HRV biofeedback intervention vs. null was evaluated on Self-reported emotional intensity during emotion regulation based on sex differences (null, 95% CI null, p=<0.01). Females reported greater emotional intensity for negative emotion (M = 2.52, 95% CI [2.39, 2.64]) compared to positive emotion (M = 2.32, 95% CI [2.18, 2.46]), while males rated both negative (M = 2.49) and positive emotions similarly (M = 2.49).