Work

Natural language processing reveals differences in mental time travel at higher levels of self-efficacy

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The (re-)construction of past and future personal experiences, termed mental time travel (MTT), is highly adaptive and contributes to self-related beliefs and attitudes. Mounting evidence suggests that self-efficacy (SE), the belief that one can overcome obstacles on their own account, is functionally related to MTT. In the present study, we used novel methods for the analysis of MTT narratives based on natural language processing (NLP) to investigate the relation between SE and MTT. We demonstrated that self-efficacious participants remembered and imagined experiences which were semantically less similar and contained a wider variety of contents. Additionally, increased SE was related to a positive reappraisal of personal episodes and reports of a more active role within mental scenarios. In conclusion, NLP appears to be a valuable method to quantify changes to the (re-)construction of personal experience that might support cognitive and emotional functioning.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-76959-w

Authors: Laurin Plank, Armin Zlomuzica

Institution: Ruhr University Bochum

Language: English

Topic: Memory Processes and Influences

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,590

Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Ruhr-Universität Bochum