Working memory capacity and emotion regulation
Working memory capacity (WMC) refers to the capacity to maintain information in short-term storage while simultaneously processing other information. WMC plays an important role in higher-order cognitive functions like reading comprehension and goal maintenance, but more recent research implicates WMC in emotional processes as well. Our research examines how WMC relates to emotional experiences and emotion regulation.
Subjective experiences of mental effort
The sensation of mental effort emerges during mentally demanding activity and is generally considered unpleasant. This work explores how motivational factors such as incentives impact feelings of mental effort and related sensations (fatigue, boredom, frustration).
Perceptions of authenticity during self-control conflicts
Authenticity refers to acting in accordance with one’s true self. During self-control conflicts, two aspects of the self are in conflict — an impulse towards one action (e.g., wanting to watch TV) and motivation to control the self towards another action (e.g., working on a project). During self-control conflicts, is following one’s impulse or exercising self-control perceived as more authentic?
Select Publications (*graduate student author)
*Wahlers, J. N., Garrison, K. E., Hart, W. (2025). Measuring subjective mental effort as an aversive and enjoyable phenomenon. Motivation Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000393
*Williams, A. C., Cundiff, J. M., O’Neill, R. M., Garrison, K. E., & Morozink Boylan, J. (2025). Perceived social rank & physiology: A meta-analysis of experimental manipulations. Health Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001493
*Wahlers, J. N., Garrison, K. E., & *Akin, K. (2024). Autonomous choice influences the subjective experience of mental effort during a reading comprehension task. Motivation Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000380
*Wahlers, J. N., Garrison, K. E., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2024). Working memory capacity relates to reduced negative emotion in daily life. Cognition and Emotion, 39, 453-464. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2024.2402939
Garrison, K. E., *Wahlers, J., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2024) Performance incentives influence the subjective experience of mental effort. Motivation and Emotion. https://rdcu.be/dNUcF
Hart, W., Garrison, K. E., *Lambert, J. T., *Hall, B. T. (2024). Don’t worry about being you: Relations between perceived authenticity and mental health are due to self-esteem and executive functioning. Psychological Reports.
Dubravac, M., Garrison, K. E., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2024). Effects of task switching and emotional stimuli on memory selectivity. Cognition and Emotion, 1-12.
Hart, W., *Kinrade, C., *Lambert, J. T., & Garrison, K. E. (2023). Designing one’s authentic identity: Self-proclaimed authentic people report self-presentation agendas to seem authentic to audiences. Personality and Individual Differences, 201, 111941.
Garrison, K. E., Rivera, G. N., Schlegel, R. J., Hicks, J. A., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2023). Authentic for thee but not for me: perceived authenticity in self-control conflicts. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 49, 1646-1662. PDF
Garrison, K. E., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2022). Getting over it: Working memory capacity and affective responses to stressful events in daily life. Emotion, 22, 418 – 429. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000755. Postprint at https://psyarxiv.com/3mwtb/
Baldwin, C. L., Garrison, K. E., Baumeister, R. F., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2022). Making memorable choices: Cognitive control and the self-choice effect in memory. Self and Identity, 21, 363-386. Postprint at https://psyarxiv.com/jytpn/
Garrison, K. E., Crowell, A. L., Kelley, N. J., Finley, A. J., Baldwin, C. L., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2021) Electrocortical effects of acetaminophen during emotional picture viewing, cognitive control, and negative feedback. Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience, 21, 390-400.
Baldwin, C. L., Finley, A. J., Garrison, K. E., Crowell, A. L., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2019). Higher trait self-control is associated with less intense and less frequent visceral states. Self and Identity, 18, 576-588. Postprint at https://psyarxiv.com/vgr45/
Garrison, K. E., Finley, A. J., & Schmeichel, B. J (2019). Ego depletion reduces attention control: Evidence from two high-powered preregistered experiments. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 45, 728-739. Postprint at https://psyarxiv.com/pgny3/
Garrison, K. E., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2019) Effects of emotional content on working memory capacity. Cognition and Emotion, 33, 370-377. doi:10.1080/02699931.2018.1438989. PDF
Garrison, K. E., Crowell, A. L., Finley, A. J., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2017). Effects of prior mental effort on picture processing: An ERP investigation. Psychophysiology, 54, 1714-1725. doi:10.1111/psyp.12914. PDF
Garrison, K. E., & Handley, I. M. (2017). Not merely experiential: Unconscious thought can be rational. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1096.
Garrison, K. E., Tang, D., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2016). Embodying power: A preregistered replication and extension of the power pose effect. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 7, 623-630. doi:10.1177/1948550616652209. PDF
Lench, H. C., Baldwin, C. L., Garrison, K. E., & An, D. (2018). The emotional toolkit: Lessons from the science of emotion. In H. C. Lench (Ed.), Functions of emotion: When and why emotions help us. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.