Cold and hot executive functions between high-level and low-level ruminant thinking individuals

Abstract

Objective To explore the character of ruminant thinking individuals in cold executive functions(cool EF) and hot executive functions(hot EF). Methods According to the score of rumination response scale(RRS), 17 low-level ruminant thinking individuals and 21 high-level ruminant thinking individuals were screened out and finished the classic Stroop test. Results In the cool EF, it was consistent between low-level and high-level ruminant thinking individuals for color naming task response time ((10.61±23.20)ms vs (10.79±29.32)ms), and there was no significant difference in the classic Stroop test(t=0.21, P>0.05). In the hot EF, the respone time of the low-level group was longer than that of high-level group on the positive and negative((-5.01±22.20)ms vs (-10.88±20.33)ms; (8.78±29.96)ms vs (-8.68±19.94)ms), and the main effect of the emotional Stroop interference scores between positive and negative words was highly significant(F=10.88, P<0.05). The interactive effect of emotional Stroop interference scores of words × subjects was significant(F=5.70, P<0.05). The simple effect tests showed that the emotional Stroop interference scores between high-level and low-level ruminant thinking subjects were significant in the negative group(F=4.69, P<0.05). And it was also significant between positive and negative words in the low-level group(F=14.63, P<0.05). Conclusion Two types of subjects in the cold EF have no significant difference.High-level ruminant thinking individuals in the cold EF are normal, but impaired in the hot EF that meaning high-level ruminant thinking individuals had bias to negative emotion.These results provide new clues for the intervention of negative emotions caused by ruminants. Key words: Rumiation; Executive function; Stroop effect; Attentional bias