Theory and evidence suggest that the frontal lobes in other primates also mediate and regulate emotion, but do not demonstrate the metacognitive abilities that are demonstrated in humans.

The reasons are unclear, though they may be able to regulate emotions and behaviour and bounce back from stress more effectively.

This requires mindfulness: a slower, more deliberate consciousness, to engage the prefrontal cortex, the brain area that regulates emotion and considers the consequences of our actions.

In addition, older adults sometimes show a positivity effect when remembering information, which seems to be a result of the increased focus on regulating emotion seen with age.