Emotion regulation capacity in older adults: Effects on facial expression and memory

This thesis primarily investigated the extent to which the capacity for emotion regulation is preserved in older adults. In doing this, the current research explored possible contributors that might help explain how older adults regulate their emotions as well as young adults, and the limitations to emotion regulation ability in ageing. Subtle changes in muscle activity associated with positive and negative facial expressions were measured with zygomaticus and corrugator facial electromyography (EMG) as a novel technique to determine age differences in specific emotion regulation use, as well as age differences in emotional reactivity.