To initiate a neuroscientific approach to the science of nostalgia, we conducted an experiment testing distinct hypotheses involving the effects of nostalgia on the event-related negativity (ERN). Based on the view of the ERN as an index of action monitoring and research suggesting a negative impact of loneliness on cognitive control, we predicted that high loneliness would be associated with lower neural (ERN amplitude) and cognitive (post-error accuracy) indices of cognitive control. We further predicted that nostalgia would mitigate these effects based on past research indicating nostalgia counteracts loneliness. Alternatively, because other research describes ERN as a marker of defensive motivation and nostalgia has been shown to orient people away from avoidance and toward approach motivational states, we predicted that nostalgia would decrease ERN amplitude, irrespective of loneliness. We recruited 75 participants (N = 60 after rejection), measured loneliness, randomly assigned participants to a memory reflection task, and employed a flanker task. Neural and behavioral measures were recorded. We observed no significant effects involving loneliness and were thus unable to examine nostalgia as a loneliness intervention. However, consistent with the motivational model of nostalgia, participants in the nostalgia, compared to ordinary, condition had a significantly decreased ERN amplitude at electrode Cz.

为了启动对怀旧科学的神经科学方法，我们进行了一项实验，测试了涉及怀旧对事件相关消极（ERN）的影响的不同假设。基于ERN作为行动监测指标的观点以及研究表明孤独对认知控制的负面影响，我们预测高孤独将与较低的神经（ERN幅度）和认知（错误后准确性）指标相关认知控制。根据过去的研究表明，怀旧抵消了孤独感，我们进一步预测怀旧会减轻这些影响。另外，由于其他研究将ERN标记为防御动机的标志，而怀旧情绪已被证明可以使人们远离规避，而趋向于动机状态，我们预测，无论寂寞如何，怀旧都会降低ERN振幅。我们招募了75名参与者（拒绝后N = 60），测量孤独感，随机分配参与者参加记忆反射任务，并采用侧翼任务。记录神经和行为测量。我们没有观察到涉及孤独的重大影响，因此无法将怀旧作为孤独的干预手段。但是，与怀旧的动机模型一致，与普通情况相比，怀旧的参与者在电极Cz处的ERN振幅显着降低。记录神经和行为测量。我们没有观察到涉及孤独的重大影响，因此无法将怀旧作为孤独的干预手段。但是，与怀旧的动机模型一致，与普通情况相比，怀旧的参与者在电极Cz处的ERN振幅显着降低。记录神经和行为测量。我们没有观察到涉及孤独的重大影响，因此无法将怀旧作为孤独的干预手段。但是，与怀旧的动机模型一致，与普通情况相比，怀旧的参与者在电极Cz处的ERN振幅显着降低。