Can the Psycho-Emotional State be Optimized by Regular Use of Positive Imagery?, Psychological and Electroencephalographic Study of Self-Guided Training

Abstract

The guided imagery training is considered as an effective method and therefore widely used in modern cognitive psychotherapy, while less is known about the effectiveness of self-guided. The present study investigated the effects of regular use of self-guided positive imagery, applying both subjective (assessment of the psycho-emotional state) and objective (electroencephalographic, EEG) approaches to research. Thirty healthy subjects participated in the cognitive imagery-training program for 12 weeks. The schedule began with group training with an instructor for 2 days, where the participants learned various techniques of positive imagery, after which they continued their individual training at home. Psychological and EEG evaluations were applied at the baseline and at the end of the training period. The impact of training on the psycho-emotional states of the participants was evaluated through: Center for epidemiologic studies- Depression (CES-D) 20 item scale, Satisfaction with life scale (SWLS) and General Self-Efficacy scale (GSE). EEGs (19-channels) were recorded at rest with eyes closed. EEG analysis was performed using Low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) software that allows the comparison of current source density (CSD) and functional connectivity (lagged phase and coherence) in the default mode network before and after a workout. Initial assessment with CES-D indicated that 22 participants had subthreshold depression. After the training participants had less prominent depressive symptoms (CES-D, p = 0.002), were more satisfied with their lives (SWLS, p = 0.036), and also evaluated themselves as more effective (GSE, p = 0.0002). LORETA source analysis revealed an increase in the CSD in the right mPFC (Brodmann area 10) for beta-2 band after training (p = 0.038). LORETA connectivity analysis demonstrated an increase in lagged coherence between temporal gyruses of both hemispheres in the delta band, as well as between the Posterior cingulate cortex and right BA21 in the theta band after a workout. Since mPFC is involved in emotional regulation, functional changes in this region can be seen in line with the results of psychological tests and their objective validation. A possible activation of GAMK-ergic system is discussed. Self-guided positive imagery (after instructions) can be helpful for emotional selfregulation in healthy subjects and has the potential to be useful in subthreshold depression.

Self-guided Positive Imagery Training: Effects beyond the Emotions–A Loreta Study

“…This work confirmed the results obtained in our previous study (Velikova et al, 2017 ) that self-guided positive imagery training, implemented in accordance with the protocol described, had a positive impact on the emotional state of participants, they were more satisfied with their lives, and they perceived themselves as more effective. For all tests no significant differences were observed between the performances during baseline (E 0 ) and pre-training (E 1 ) examinations, therefore the effects should not be explained by the repetition of the tasks.…”

“…The non-verbal reasoning was a unique domain where significant changes were observed only in half of the sample without depressive symptomatology. A possible explanation may be consistent with the study (Takesaki et al, 2016 ), demonstrating a positive relationship between functional connectivity and non-verbal reasoning, and although we did not study functional connectivity here, our previous study of emotional images (Velikova et al, 2017 ) demonstrated an increased communication after training. On the other hand it known that capacity to imagine is reduced in presence of depressive symptomatology (Hackmann et al, 2011 ).…”

“…The training program was analogous with that described in our previous study (Velikova et al, 2017 ). In summary: the program duration was 12 weeks and included an initial 2-day long seminar with guided group training, followed by practice at home (15–20 min/daily) and then a second group training (2 days long) at the end of the observed period.…”

“…The present work was devoted to the study of the effect of self-guided positive imagery training on the cognitive domain , and this was due to questions that arose during our pilot study on the abovementioned training methodology (Velikova et al, 2017 ). It was demonstrated that a 12-week long training improves the emotional well-being of healthy people, beneficially influencing their mood and subjective perception of self-efficacy .…”

“…In this study, we tested the hypothesis that self-guided positive imagery training can affect cognitive functions beyond one's own emotions, so here, using a new group, we repeated our previous experiment (Velikova et al, 2017 ), expanding the study with a battery for cognitive evaluation.…”