Beck Institute Blog

Past research has shown that the interaction of bottom-up and top-down processes is what leads to the development of emotions. Until recently, there have not been studies that look at bottom-up and top-down processes respectively. Neuroscientists have put their greatest focus on bottom-up processes’ involvement in perception, learning, and memory, but failed to focus on top-down processes. Because of this, there has not been a true understanding of how these processes, bottom-up and top-down, individually affect the brain activities involved in emotion.

A new study published by The Association for Psychological Science does just this. Using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), researchers studied whether common or distinct neural systems were involved in generating negative emotional responses via bottom-up versus top-down processing. They did this by showing participants aversive images for bottom-up trials, and neutral images which participants were asked to interpret in aversive ways for top-down trials.

Fundamentally, this study showed how there could be many possible appraisal processes that the brain goes through, and helped to define what mechanisms underlie the relevant forms of emotion dysregulation.

Ochsner, K. N., Ray, R. R., Hughes, B., McRae, K, Cooper, J. C., Weber, J, Gabrieli, J. D. E., & Gross, J. J. (2009). Bottom-up and top-down processes in emotion generation. The Association for Psychological Science, 20, 1322-1331.

(Left) Dr. Aaron Beck answers questions after conducting a live patient session that was viewed (via closed-circuit television) by participants in the Advanced Experiential Cognitive Behavior Therapy Workshop. The workshop was attended by psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors and other professionals who traveled from Canada, France, Lebanon, Mexico, United Kingdom, and twelve U.S. states.

(Right) Dr. Judith Beck conducts a roleplay with Suzanne McKann, MA, LCPC, a psychotherapist in private practice based in Maryland. The Advanced Workshop was designed for professionals at intermediate and advanced levels of training and experience who wanted to enhance their ability to deliver cognitive behavior therapy efficiently and effectively to clients who pose a challenge in treatment. Participants presented cases from their practices. Beck Institute faculty (Aaron T. Beck, M.D., Judith S. Beck, Ph.D., and Leslie Sokol, Ph.D.) taught the group advanced conceptualization techniques and treatment planning, then demonstrated cognitive behavior therapy interventions through demonstration roleplays and supervised participants in dyadic roleplays.

Many topics were covered, including anger, early trauma, self harm behavior, binge eating, substance abuse,  anxiety, chronic depression, hopelessness and suicidalitiy. Developing the therapeutic relationship and engaging reluctant patients in treatment were emphasized.

Learn more about Beck Institute training at www.BeckInstitute.org, select Training.