We are frequently challenged with situations requiring the control of our emotions, often under substantial time-pressure and rapidly changing contextual demands. Coping with those demands requires the ability to flexibly and rapidly switch between different emotional control strategies. However, this ability has been largely neglected by current neurocognitive models on emotional control. Drawing on the decision-making literature, we propose that rapid switching between alternative emotional control strategies requires the concurrent evaluation of unchosen (counterfactual) options. This model explains how an individual can adaptively change emotional control behavior to meet contextual demands and shifting goals. We propose that the neural implementation of this emotional control mechanism relies on the anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC/lateral frontal pole), given its known role in monitoring alternative options during cognitive decision-making tasks. We reappraise meta-analytic evidence showing consistent aPFC involvement during emotional control when monitoring of alternative emotional control strategies is required, and when alternative emotional actions have high value. We conclude with emphasizing the clinical and evolutionary implications of this new framework on emotional control.

我们经常面临需要控制情绪的情况，通常在巨大的时间压力和快速变化的情境要求下面临挑战。为了满足这些需求，需要能够在不同的情绪控制策略之间灵活，快速地切换。但是，这种能力已被当前关于情绪控制的神经认知模型所忽略。根据决策文献，我们建议在其他情绪控制策略之间进行快速切换需要同时评估未选择的（反事实）选项。该模型说明了个人如何适应性地改变情绪控制行为，以满足情境需求和转变目标。我们建议这种情绪控制机制的神经实现依赖于前额叶前皮层（aPFC /外侧额叶极），因为它在认知决策任务中监视替代选项的已知作用。我们重新评估了荟萃分析证据，表明当需要监测替代性情绪控制策略时，以及当替代性情绪行动具有较高价值时，在情绪控制过程中aPFC持续参与。最后，我们强调了这种新框架对情绪控制的临床和进化意义。我们重新评估了荟萃分析证据，表明当需要监测替代性情绪控制策略时，以及当替代性情绪行动具有较高价值时，在情绪控制过程中aPFC持续参与。最后，我们强调了这种新框架对情绪控制的临床和进化意义。我们重新评估了荟萃分析证据，表明当需要监测替代性情绪控制策略时，以及当替代性情绪行动具有较高价值时，在情绪控制过程中aPFC持续参与。最后，我们强调了这种新框架对情绪控制的临床和进化意义。