Cognitive reappraisal consists of shifting the meaning of an emotion to adjust its emotional significance before the full development of that emotion. Regulating emotions through cognitive reappraisal lowers the negative impact and physiological responses of an aversive experience. A higher cognitive reappraisal of emotions leads to more positive emotions being experienced and expressed, and lower depressive symptoms and negative emotions. People with major depression disorder show lower cognitive reappraisal than healthy individuals.