Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
08:17
Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
Mathematical anxiety is associated with general rather than specific weakness in attention
Sarit Ashkenazi1, Yehudit Danan1
1The Seymour Fox School of Education, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Frontiers in Psychology
|May 29, 2026
Summary
Math anxiety (MA) involves tension interfering with math problem-solving. This study found verbal MA linked to spatial/attentional deficits, while nonverbal MA affected responses to negative stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Math anxiety (MA) presents as tension hindering mathematical problem-solving.
- Existing theories on MA diverge: some link it to spatial ability deficits, others to attention disruption by negative stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between verbal and nonverbal math anxiety and spatial/attentional processing.
- To differentiate the roles of spatial abilities versus emotional stimuli in math anxiety.
Main Methods:
- A spatial flanker task was utilized with negative, neutral, and mathematical images as distractors.
- Verbal math anxiety was assessed via self-report, and nonverbal math anxiety by rating math-related images.
Main Results:
- Verbal math anxiety correlated with a greater location congruity effect, suggesting spatial/attentional deficits.
- Nonverbal math anxiety influenced responses to negative distractors; high nonverbal MA individuals were less affected by negative images.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the hypothesis that spatial and attentional deficits are associated with verbal math anxiety.
- Nonverbal math anxiety appears to mitigate the impact of negative emotional stimuli on attention.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
01:18Anxiety: Overview
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
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.
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.
02:09Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies
When we hold a stereotype about a person, we have expectations that he or she will fulfill that stereotype. A self-fulfilling prophecy is an expectation held by a person that alters his or her behavior in a way that tends to make it true. When we hold stereotypes about a person, we tend to treat the person according to our expectations. This treatment can influence the person to act according to our stereotypic expectations, thus confirming our stereotypic beliefs. Research by Rosenthal and...
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
01:27Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...