Attentional Control and other Executive Functions

Abstract

Current article aims to shed light on the reciprocal relation between attentional control and emotional regulation. More specifically, there is a verified relation between attention and cognitive, metacognitive and emotional processes, such as memory, perception, reasoning as well as inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, self-monitoring and positive moods. In addition, positive mood has been already reciprocally related to a broad attentional scope as well as to an increased cognitive flexibility. Future research should focus on the effects of attentional control on cognitive control processes, thereby, on individuals’ emotional regulation, as a whole. Evidently, an advanced research in the relation of attentional control and emotional regulation could develop a comprehensive methodology for counterbalancing the difficulties facing individuals with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder or even depression.