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Sending mixed signals: worry is associated with enhanced initial error processing but reduced call for subsequent
Tim P Moran1, Ed M Bernat2, Selin Aviyente3
1Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience
|May 1, 2015
Summary
Worry is linked to heightened error detection (ERN) but not better behavioral adjustments after mistakes. This suggests worry disrupts cognitive control network communication, impacting action monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychophysiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Worry correlates with overactive action monitoring, indicated by the error-related negativity (ERN).
- Worriers show no improvement in post-error behavioral adjustments, despite enhanced ERN.
- This disconnect suggests impaired cognitive control in individuals with worry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the dissociation between ERN and post-error adjustments in worry.
- To examine the functional connectivity between medial and lateral prefrontal regions during error processing.
- To determine if reduced prefrontal functional integration mediates the relationship between worry and impaired cognitive control.
Main Methods:
- Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to record brain activity during a Flankers task in 77 undergraduates.
- Error-related negativity (ERN) amplitude and interchannel phase synchrony were analyzed.
- Correlational and path analyses assessed the relationships between worry, ERN, phase synchrony, and post-error adjustments.
Main Results:
- Worry was associated with a larger ERN amplitude.
- Worry correlated with reduced phase synchrony between prefrontal regions.
- Reduced phase synchrony partially mediated the relationship between worry and poorer post-error behavioral adjustments.
Conclusions:
- Worry impacts multiple aspects of the action-monitoring system.
- Worry is linked to both the initial neural response to errors and information transmission within cognitive control networks.
- Findings suggest worry disrupts functional integration crucial for effective cognitive control after errors.
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