Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
The dynamics of state math anxiety vary by paradigm and timing during arithmetic
Xinru Yao1,2, Julia F Huber3, Zixu Li4
1Department of Psychology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. xinru.yao.tuebingen@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Math anxiety impairs performance, but how its state and trait components interact with task characteristics remains unclear. We examined how state math anxiety varies as a function of trait math anxiety, task paradigm, and temporal dynamics, and how trait math anxiety relates to arithmetic performance. Results revealed that production paradigms, which require generating answers, elicited higher state math anxiety compared to decision paradigms, particularly for individuals with high trait math anxiety. Looking into different task phases, state math anxiety decreased during arithmetic due to habituation and after arithmetic due to relief. Additionally, the anxiety-complexity effect was replicated: Individuals with higher trait math anxiety were slower in solving complex arithmetic with a carry or borrow operation. This study confirmed the situation-dependent characteristics of state math anxiety and its dependency on paradigm and trait math anxiety, with implications for designing interventions that mitigate anxiety and optimize learning.
Related Concept Videos
Arithmetic Mean
When all the values in a data set are not unique, the sum in the numerator can be calculated by multiplying each distinct value by its frequency.
Sometimes, the arithmetic mean of a sample can be affected by a few data points...
Phasor Arithmetics
When the derivative of a sinusoid is taken in the time domain, it transforms into its corresponding phasor multiplied by j-omega (jω) in the phasor domain, where j is the imaginary unit, and ω is the angular...
Anxiety: Overview
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Convolution: Math, Graphics, and Discrete Signals
To simplify the convolution integral, it is assumed that both the input signal and impulse response are zero for negative time values. The graphical convolution process...
Gradually Varying Flow
Rapidly Varying Flow

