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Real-Time Neural and Autonomic Correlates of Perseverative Cognition in Intracranial EEG

Poster Session B - Sunday, March 8, 2026, 8:00 – 10:00 am PDT, Fairview/Kitsilano Ballroom

Michael Abad¹ (), Sean Young¹, Kurt Qing¹; ¹University of California, Irvine

Perseverative Cognition (PC) refers to the sustained and repetitive processing of distressing thoughts, such as rumination and worry, which can prolong neural and physiological activation long after a stressor has passed. PC has primarily been investigated using functional MRI, a powerful but temporally limited technique that captures static snapshots of brain activity. While fMRI studies have identified consistent involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and insula—regions that integrate self-referential, affective, and interoceptive processes with autonomic arousal—these paradigms rely on brief, externally cued tasks and therefore provide limited insight into how maladaptive thought patterns unfold spontaneously over time. This exploratory study integrates intracranial EEG (iEEG), physiology, and ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to capture self-identified episodes of PC in adults undergoing multi-day iEEG monitoring for epilepsy. Participants are trained to recognize and report sustained negative thinking using a button press linked to immediate EMA ratings of thought intensity, valence, and temporal focus (past versus future). iEEG and autonomic signals (heart rate and heart-rate variability) are recorded continuously. Each event is classified as rumination-dominant, worry-dominant, mixed, or low-intensity, with the latter reflecting thoughts with minimal negative affect or limited repetition. Analyses will compare high-frequency oscillatory activity and connectivity across prefrontal, cingulate, amygdalar, and insular regions during PC episodes versus neutral intervals. By directly linking neural and physiological dynamics to spontaneous perseverative thought, this study advances understanding of mechanisms underlying anxiety, depression, and related disorders, informing transdiagnostic and closed-loop intervention approaches in mental health.

Topic Area: EMOTION & SOCIAL: Emotion-cognition interactions