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Updated: Apr 22, 2026

Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
Published on: September 12, 2014
Larger N2 and smaller early contingent negative variation during the processing of uncertainty about future emotional
Huiyan Lin1, Hongwei Gao2, Jin You3
1Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China; Institute of Medical Psychology and Systems Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany; Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Abstract:
Uncertainty increases individuals' anxiety and fear. Identifying its neural processing may contribute to understanding the detrimental effects of uncertainty on well-being and psychological symptoms. Using high temporal resolution event-related potentials (ERPs), employing the classical paradigm in which neutral signs were used as certain and uncertain cues and anticipating arousal-balanced positive and negative pictures, the present study aimed to further investigate the temporal dynamics of brain activation by uncertainty about future emotional events. ERPs were recorded while participants observed uncertain cues and certain cues about future positive and negative pictures. Results showed that the uncertain cues produced larger N2 than did the certain cues about both future positive and negative pictures, and uncertain cues produced smaller early contingent negative variation (CNV) than did the certain cues about future negative pictures. The results provide evidence that the specific processing of uncertainty about future emotional events occurs at different cognitive stages.
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