Regarding　to　aversive　stimuli,　previous　studies　on　emotion　response　and　formation　are　plentiful,　whereas　concentrations　on　the　emotional　recovery　are　comparatively　insufficient.　The　present　study　focused　on　the　discomfort　induced　by　looking　at　aversive　pictures,　and　the　emotional　self-regulation　during　the　following　recovery　period.　A　functional　magnetic　resonance　imaging　(fMRI)　experiment　with　prolonged　paradigm　was　recruited　to　investigate　how　brain-state　shifted　across　three　stages:　picture　viewing,　earlier　resting　period,　and　latter　resting　period.　Comparing　with　neutral　pictures,　aversive　pictures　activated　the　caudate　nucleus　centric　subcortical　areas,　which　also　kept　firing　during　the　resting　period.　Meanwhile　an　activation　pattern　gradually　appeared　in　fronto-parietal　regions　that　were　found　negatively　correlated　to　subcortical　areas.　Our　findings　suggest　that　the　emotional　recovery　from　discomfort　is　also　a　procedure　accompanied　by　the　strategy　shift　from　passively　suppressing　emotional　response　to　actively　controlling　the　attention.　©　2014　Springer　International　Publishing.