Chronotype, Emotional Regulation and Working Memory: A Correlational and Experimental Approach [abstract: poster]

Abstract

Working memory (WM) is a central system for the temporary maintenance and updating of information, wich can be influenced by both biological and emotional factors. At the biological level, circadian typology (chronotype) stands out, as well as the effects of synchrony/asynchrony between time of day and biological rhythm. However, cognitive performance is not explained exclusively by circadian variables, and it could be important to consider emotional processes, namely emotional regulation (ER) and psychological distress (anxiety, depression, and stress). This research analyzed the interaction among biological (chronotype and time of day), emotional (ER strategies and difficulties and distress) and cognitive (WM capacity) factors in a sample of university students across two complementary studies. Study 1 (N = 345) - correlational - tested a mediation model between cognitive ER strategies, ER difficulties and distress, examining the invariance across chronotypes. The findings confirmed the mediating role of ER difficulties, with structural invariance across chronotypes. Study 2 (N = 57) - quasi-experimental - assessed performance on an Operation Span Task manipulated with positive, negative and neutral valence stimuli, administered at synchronous and asynchronous times. No significant effects of chronotype, time of day or emotional valence were found. Overall, the findings suggest that the mechanisms between cognition and emotion could remain stable across chronotypes, with no evidence of differential effects of circadian synchrony on WM. These results contribute to a more integrated understanding of the relationship between biological, emotional, and cognitive factors in an academic context.