| Description |
Growing evidence demonstrates that (a) executive functions (EF) become deleteriously affected by engagement in the emotion regulation strategy known as expressive suppression and (b) EF show considerable functional and neuroanatomical overlap with motor output. The current study aimed to bridge these two literatures by examining the relationships between naturally occurring expressive suppression and several different aspects of motor output, including action planning, action learning, and motor-control speed and accuracy. In addition we investigated whether any identified relationships could be explained by EF. Fifty-one healthy young adults completed selected subtests from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System as indices of EF, a self-report measure of expressive suppression, and a computerized motor sequencing task (Push Turn Taptap task; PTT) designed to assess action planning, action learning, and motor-control speed and accuracy. Hierarchical regressions using each aspect of PTT performance as the dependent variable revealed that higher-than-usual self-reported expressive suppression on the day of testing (relative to the two weeks preceding testing) was associated with longer action-planning latencies. This relationship was fully explained by EF. No other PTT variables related to expressive suppression on the day of testing. These results suggest that increased expressive suppression in daily life measurably degrades action planning, an aspect of motor output that is reliant on EF, highlighting the importance of factors that lead to intraindividual fluctuations in EF ability and motor performance. |
