In this episode, we delve deep into the world of cognitive control with Dr. Fradkin as we discuss how people deal with unwanted thoughts. Although much research has been focused on external interferences, we shift the focus to internal, unwanted thoughts, examining the balance between reactive and proactive control in mitigating these. We discuss how reactive thought control entails slower response times due to the need to reject and replace recurring thoughts. Proactive thought control, on the other hand, implies a constricted search space leading to faster response times. With the help of a computational model, we delve deeper into proactive thought control mechanisms, exploring how individuals can reduce the episodic strengthening of repeated thoughts and avoid looping in a repetitive thought cycle. We also touch upon the link between the control over unwanted thoughts and individual differences, which can contribute to our understanding of psychiatric conditions associated with intrusive thoughts. Lastly, we discuss how associative thinking and various control processes influence semantic fluency, decision-making, and creativity.

Keywords: Cognitive Control, Unwanted Thoughts, Reactive Control, Proactive Control, Associative Thinking, Episodic Strengthening, Repetitive Thoughts, Computational Model, Semantic Fluency, Decision-Making, Creativity, Psychiatric Conditions.

Fradkin I, If you don't let it in, you don't have to get it out: Thought preemption as a method to control unwanted thoughts. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010285. PMID: 35834438; PMCID: PMC9282588.