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Anxiety, cognitive self-evaluation and performance: ERP correlates
Stefania Righi1, Luciano Mecacci, Maria Pia Viggiano
1Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy. srighi@unifi.it
Journal of Anxiety Disorders
|August 22, 2009
Summary
High anxiety and low self-confidence in sustained attention tasks are linked to specific brain activity patterns. These findings suggest cognitive strategies are activated to maintain performance despite anxiety.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychophysiology
- Affective Neuroscience
Background:
- Anxiety and cognitive self-evaluation impact performance on attention tasks.
- Event-related potentials (ERPs) offer insights into cognitive processes during attention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between anxiety, cognitive self-evaluation, and brain activity (ERPs) during sustained attention.
- To explore how anxiety and self-evaluation influence cognitive strategies and performance.
Main Methods:
- 18 participants completed a sustained attention task (Go/NoGo; SART).
- State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) assessed anxiety and self-evaluation.
- N2 and P3 ERP components were analyzed in relation to performance and self-report measures.
Main Results:
- No significant correlation between reaction times and anxiety/cognitive self-evaluation.
- N2 amplitude increased with higher trait and state anxiety.
- P3 amplitude decreased with increased cognitive failures, indicating reduced self-confidence.
Conclusions:
- Anxiety and cognitive self-evaluation modulate electrophysiological responses during sustained attention.
- Individuals with higher anxiety and lower self-confidence may employ cognitive strategies to maintain performance.
- Frontal areas and the anterior cingulate cortex are implicated in this affective-cognitive interaction.
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