Individual differences in anxiety and executive functioning: A multidimensional view

Does Anxiety Systematically Bias Estimates of Executive Functioning Deficits in Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

Growing evidence suggests that childhood ADHD is associated with larger impairments in working memory relative to inhibition. However, most studies have not considered the role of co-occurring anxiety on these estimates - a potentially significant confound given prior evidence that anxiety may increase working memory difficulties but decrease inhibition difficulties for these children. The current study extends prior work to examine the extent to which co-occurring anxiety may be systematically affecting recent estimates of the magnitude of working memory/inhibitory control deficits in ADHD. The carefully-phenotyped sample included 197 children with ADHD and 142 children without ADHD between the ages of 8 and 13 years (N = 339; Mage = 10.31, SD = 1.39; 144 female participants). Results demonstrated that ADHD diagnosis predicted small impairments in inhibitory control (d = 0.31) and large impairments in working memory (d = 0.99). However, child trait anxiety assessed dimensionally across multiple informants (child, parent, teacher) did not uniquely predict either executive function, nor did it moderate estimates of ADHD-related working memory/inhibition deficits. When evaluating anxiety categorically and controlling for ADHD, anxiety diagnosis predicted slightly better working memory (d = 0.19) but not inhibitory control for clinically evaluated children generally. Findings from the current study indicate that trait anxiety, measured dimensionally or categorically, does not differentially affect estimates of executive dysfunction in pediatric ADHD. Further, results suggest that trait anxiety is generally not associated with executive dysfunction above and beyond the impact of co-occurring ADHD. Future research is needed to further assess the role of anxiety in ADHD behavioral symptomatology, neurocognitive functioning, and mechanisms underlying these relations.

Association of performance in medical residency selection with a psychiatric diagnosis, and depressive and anxiety symptoms

OBJECTIVE

Few studies have focused on medical students and residents' mental health impact on medical residency selection (MRS) performance. The authors evaluated the association of performance in MRS with depressive and anxiety symptoms and with a reported psychiatric diagnosis (rPD).

METHODS

The authors enrolled candidates after the second round of MRS examinations at a Brazilian Medical School. Performance was assessed by final grade. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed by the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (QIDS-SR) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The authors performed mediation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis to investigate the impact of rPD, state and trait anxiety, and depressive symptom severity on performance.

RESULTS

515 of the 643 MRS candidates (80.1%) participated in the study. Higher age, attending a preparatory course for MRS, rPD, and the number of MRS applications that year were associated with poorer performance. In mediation analysis, trait anxiety was associated with a direct effect on performance and an indirect effect mediated by rPD.

CONCLUSION

The data suggest that psychiatric diagnosis is associated with poorer performance on MRS, regardless of current symptoms of anxiety and depression. Additionally, increased levels of trait anxiety may negatively impact performance, directly and indirectly.

Trait anxiety slows speed of processing but does not affect specific components of executive control

The present work aimed to establish the influence of self-reported trait anxiety on computerized and self-reported measures of executive control, and speed of processing in young adults using latent variable modeling. One hundred and six participants completed the State-trait anxiety questionnaire (STAI-t), the Attentional Control Scale (ACS), and a set of computerized tasks of executive control, tapping into the updating, inhibition, and shifting components. Higher scores in the latent variable of trait anxiety were negatively associated with the self-reported latent variable of attentional control. Notably, self-reported and performance-based indicators of executive control showed no associations at the latent level. Contrary to our hypotheses, higher trait anxiety did not affect any performance-based executive component but was associated with an increase in response times. We show that self-reported trait anxiety is related to a lower self-perceived sense of attentional control and does not affect executive functioning in non-clinical samples. In turn, trait anxiety is mainly associated with a slowed speed of processing. In conclusion, the tendency to experience a negative mood is related with cognitive processing by reducing its speed even in the absence of threatening stimuli.

Psychometric properties of the Teenage Executive Functioning Inventory in a Turkish sample of adolescents: deficits in working memory and inhibition among adolescents

The Teenage Executive Functioning Inventory (TEXI) is a measurement tool that consists of two subscales, working memory and inhibition, and allows both self and parent rating. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of TEXI in a sample of 184 parents and 476 adolescents aged 11 and 18 years and to measure the relationship between executive functions and mental health problems, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders. Confirmatory factor analyses showed acceptable/good fit indices and confirmed the two-factor structure for both the adolescent and parent forms. Test-retest results and Cronbach's alpha coefficient showed that the scale had high reliability. The results also showed that deficits in executive functions were associated with various mental health problems in adolescents. The findings demonstrated that a Turkish translation of the TEXI is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating the executive functions of adolescents.

Examining patterns of executive functioning across dimensions of psychopathology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The current study examined relationships between psychopathology and individual domains of executive functioning (EF) amongst adults. While previous studies have examined these relationships using diagnostic groups, we compared factor structures of both dimensional psychopathology and EF and used an approach to better isolate EF-specific task variance within each domain.

METHODS

This study analyzed the data of 722 individuals between the ages of 18-59 years, who took part in the Nathan Kline Institute (NKI)-Rockland project. Confirmatory factor analyses were used to derive a three-factor model of EF (i.e., inhibition, shifting, and fluency) proposed by Karr et al. (2019) with scores primarily from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS), as well as a three-factor model of psychopathology (i.e., internalizing, externalizing, and thought disorder symptoms) from the Adult Self-Report (ASR) and Peter's et al. Delusions Inventory (PDI). These models were compared using structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

Results demonstrated an adequate fit for both model structures and indicated that internalizing and externalizing psychopathology had positive and negative relationships with different factors of EF, while thought disorder traits were not related to EF.

LIMITATIONS

This study examines pathological traits within a non-clinical sample that excluded individuals with severe mental illness. Additionally, analyses were limited by the availability of certain variables, and potential shared method variance within factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Patterns of associations with EF were unique to all three aspects of dimensional psychopathology. When examined together, different dimensions of psychopathology were related to both better and worse EF performance.

Relationships between predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors and executive functioning following mild traumatic brain injury

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to determine the sociodemographic and MTBI-related variables associated with executive functioning (EF).

METHODS

Based on the theoretical model of Hou and colleagues, data on predisposing (age, education, premorbid IQ), precipitating (post-traumatic amnesia, loss of consciousness, presence of frontal lesions, post-accident time to evaluation) and perpetuating (anxious and depressive affects and post-concussive symptoms) factors were retrospectively collected from the medical records of 172 patients with MTBI. EF data based on the 3 processes included in Miyake's prediction model (2000) (updating, cognitive flexibility and inhibition) were collected using respectively the Digit span task of the Weschler - 4^th edition, the Trails A and B as well as the initiation time on the Tower of London- Drexel University.

RESULTS

Updating was significantly associated with education, premorbid IQ, age, anxiety, and depressive affect. Inhibition was associated with education and age. No variable was associated with cognitive flexibility.

CONCLUSIONS

Following a MTBI, clinicians should consider that level of education and pre-morbid IQ may "predispose" patients to higher EF performances. They should also measure level of anxiety and depressive affect knowing that these may "perpetuate" some EF impairments (specifically the updating process).

The tangled webs they weave: A scoping review of deception detection and production in relation to Dark Triad traits

People deceive for different reasons, from avoiding interpersonal conflicts to preserving, protecting, and nurturing interpersonal relationships, and to obtaining social status and power. A growing body of research highlights the role of personality in both deception detection and production, with a particular focus on high Dark Triad (DT) traits (Narcissism, Machiavellianism and Psychopathy), for their shared tendency to engage in unethical self-benefitting behaviors, despite negative consequences for others. The main goal of the current scoping review was to bring together the studies investigating self-reported and performance-based deception production and detection performances, as presented in individuals characterized by high DT traits and point out the possible contribution of DT to deception research. To do so, we identified the relevant studies documenting the similarities and discrepancies between the three personality traits and presented their results, based on the procedure used for deception assessment: subjective or objective measurements for production / detection. Then, we discussed possible explanatory mechanisms for inter-individual differences in lie detection / production and argue for the contribution of DT to deception research beyond the typical personality models, particularly for the antisocial character of deception.

Examining the Factor Structure and Incremental Validity of the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale - Short Form in a Community Sample

The Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale - Short Form (BDEFS-SF; Barkley, 2011) was developed to assess deficits in five facets of executive functioning. Theoretical assumptions surrounding the BDEFS-SF presume that executive dysfunction is an overarching construct that consists of five domain-specific factors (i.e., a hierarchical model; Barkley, 2011). Prior research has supported a correlated five-factor model, but the tenability of hierarchical or bifactor models of the BDEFS-SF have not yet been tested. In the present study (N = 1,120 community adults), confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare four theoretically relevant models of the BDEFS-SF (i.e., one-factor, correlated five-factor, hierarchical, and bifactor models). The bifactor model provided the best fit to the data. However, the general factor accounted for the overwhelming majority of variance in BDEFS-SF scores and none of the domain-specific factors exhibited adequate construct replicability or factor determinancy. Further, the general factor accounted for the overhelming majority of variance in criterion variables (i.e., executive attention and health anxiety); the Organization and Emotion factors accounted for a small amount of unique variance in executive attention and the Emotion factor accounted for a small amount of unique variance in health anxiety. Taken together, study findings suggest that the BDEFS-SF has a strong general factor and independent use of the domain-specific factors is contraindicated.

Relationship between impulsivity, comorbid anxiety and neurocognitive functions in bipolar disorder

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between anxiety and impulsivity and to reveal the correlation of these variables with clinical and sociodemographic features. It is also aimed to investigate the relationship between impulsivity and anxiety with neurocognitive functions in bipolar disorder.

METHODS

The sample of the study comprises of 71 patients with bipolar disorder type I without any comorbidity (BD), 37 patients with anxiety disorder comorbidity with bipolar disorder type I (BDAD), 52 patients with anxiety disorder (AD) and 50 healthy controls (HC). Participants completed Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory 1-2, Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS), brief version of Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (FNES), Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), Trail-Making Test A-B, Digit Span Test, Stroop Test.

RESULTS

PDSS scores, trait anxiety level, hypomanic and mixed episode numbers explain 26% of attention impulsivity. Gender and ASI-3 social dimensions explain 16% of motor impulsivity. Trait anxiety explains non-planning and total impulsivity at 26 and 24%, respectively. When neurocognitive impairment's effect was controlled, it was found AD and BDAD groups had higher impulsivity levels than the BD and HC groups.

CONCLUSION

Anxiety disorder comorbidity increases impulsivity in bipolar disorder.KEYPOINTSIn the presence of anxiety disorder spectrum comorbidity, bipolar disorder patients will have increased impulsivity and the clinical course may be more severe.Trait anxiety levels and anxiety sensitivity may be predictive factors for impulsivity.In the presence of anxiety disorder spectrum comorbidity, it should be taken into consideration that these patients may be more impulsive and should be treated with more care in terms of evaluation of the disorder.

A transdiagnostic examination of anxiety and stress on executive function outcomes in disorders with social impairment

BACKGROUND

Executive function (EF) difficulties characterise a number of psychiatric conditions and EF impairment may be a predisposing factor and/or consequence of anxiety and stress. The aim of the study was to examine EF factors in a mixed clinical cohort (Autism Spectrum Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder) characterised by social impairment and investigate the influence of trait anxiety and state-based depression, anxiety and stress.

METHODS

In Study 1, a factor analysis identified EF and non-EF latent factor structures (N=205). In Study 2, (N=137) multiple regression analyses investigated the association between trait anxiety and state based depression, anxiety and stress, on EF and non-EF cognitive domains and on the two composite indices of the Behavioural Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF).

RESULTS

Trait anxiety was associated with better performance on neuropsychological measures of EF while state-based stress was associated with lower EF performance. A dissociation was observed between trait anxiety and state stress on the two behavioural indices of the BRIEF. Depression, anxiety and stress did not predict performance on non-EF cognitive domains.

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional design precludes cause-effect conclusions, further only self-report measures of affect were utilised and our performance measures of EF did not include a working memory test.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate that trait anxiety and state-based stress influence EF processes across disorders with social impairment. The transdiagnostic efficacy of this finding can facilitate remediation strategies, it may also contribute to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder gaining better access to mental health services.

Exploring the complex inter-relations between internalising symptoms, executive functioning and alcohol use in young adults

OBJECTIVE

Globally, the prevalence of hazardous drinking peaks in young adulthood, and there is mixed evidence on whether internalising symptoms and executive functioning deficits are associated with this increased risk. This study tested whether internalising symptoms in interaction with executive functioning deficits are associated with high alcohol use disorder symptoms in emerging adulthood, via drinking motives to cope with negative affect and alcohol consumption.

METHOD

An Australian sample of 155 young adults aged 17 to 24 years (M = 20.97, SD = 2.40) provided self-report data on internalising symptom severity and alcohol-related outcomes (n = 155), and neuropsychological data measuring executive functioning (n = 104). Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to identify two latent variables representing internalising symptoms and executive functions. A series of latent moderated structural equation models and a latent mediated moderation structural equation model examined the inter-relations between internalising symptoms, executive functions and alcohol measures.

RESULTS

High levels of internalising symptoms in interaction with executive functioning deficits were associated with strong drinking motives to cope with negative affect, high past month alcohol consumption and greater alcohol use disorder symptoms. Drinking motives to cope with negative affect and alcohol consumption mediated the relationship between the internalising symptoms and executive functioning latent interaction term with alcohol use disorder symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

This research highlights greater executive functioning resources are associated with low desires to drink hazardous amounts of alcohol as a maladaptive way to cope with negative feelings among young people. It therefore may be useful to target executive functioning ability alongside internalising symptomology in alcohol prevention and intervention initiatives.

Stress & executive functioning: A review considering moderating factors

A multitude of studies investigating the effects of stress on cognition has produced an inconsistent picture on whether - and under which conditions - stress has advantageous or disadvantageous effects on executive functions (EF). This review provides a short introduction to the concept of stress and its neurobiology, before discussing the need to consider moderating factors in the association between stress and EF. Three core domains are described and discussed in relation to the interplay between stress and cognition: the influence of different paradigms on physiological stress reactivity, individual differences in demographic and biological factors, and task-related features of cognitive tasks. Although some moderating variables such as the endocrine stress response have frequently been considered in single studies, no attempt of a holistic overview has been made so far. Therefore, we propose a more nuanced and systematic framework to study the effects of stress on executive functioning, comprising a holistic overview from the induction of stress, via biological mechanisms and interactions with individual differences, to the influence of stress on cognitive performance.

Cognitive Impairments in Early-Detoxified Alcohol-Dependent Inpatients and Their Associations with Socio-Demographic, Clinical and Psychological Factors: An Exploratory Study

PURPOSE

Cognitive impairment is common among patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, neuropsychological assessment is not usually included as routine practice in alcohol rehabilitation programs. The aim of this study was to describe qualitatively the cognitive deficits in early-detoxified AUD patients undergoing rehabilitation and to explore relevant associations with socio-demographic, clinical and psychological factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty-one patients with a diagnosis of AUD were consecutively recruited from a residential rehabilitation hospital in Northern Italy. Cognitive impairment was assessed using the Brief Neuropsychological Examination 2 (ENB-2). Anxiety, depression and severity of alcohol dependence were also evaluated using validated self-report questionnaires. Alcohol relapse was investigated 1 month after discharge.

RESULTS

Overall, 31.7% of AUD patients showed cognitive impairments according to the global score scale. However, 70.7% had an impaired performance on at least one test of the ENB-2, with particular regard to executive function, visuospatial and memory domains. Age, education and abstinence at admission were the most relevant factors associated with cognitive deficits in this clinical population.

CONCLUSION

The detection of cognitive impairments is essential in order to adapt alcohol rehabilitation treatment to patients with cognitive deficits and enhance clinical outcomes.

Human Capital and Administrative Burden: The Role of Cognitive Resources in Citizen-State Interactions

One means by which the state reinforces inequality is by imposing administrative burdens that loom larger for citizens with lower levels of human capital. Integrating insights from various disciplines, this article focuses on one aspect of human capital: cognitive resources. The authors outline a model that explains how burdens and cognitive resources, especially executive functioning, interrelate. The article then presents illustrative examples, highlighting three common life factors-scarcity, health problems, and age-related cognitive decline. These factors create a human capital catch-22, increasing people's likelihood of needing state assistance while simultaneously undermining the cognitive resources required to negotiate the burdens they encounter while seeking such assistance. The result is to reduce access to state benefits and increase inequality. The article concludes by calling for scholars of behavioral public administration and public administration more generally to incorporate more attention to human capital into their research.

Parental Demandingness and Executive Functioning in Predicting Anxiety among Children in a Longitudinal Community Study

Theoretical models and empirical studies of anxiety have predominately focused on the main effects of various predictors such as executive functioning deficits on anxiety. This study examined the moderating role of parental demandingness in the relationship between executive functioning deficits and anxiety in children. Ninety children (46.67% female) aged from 9 to 14 years completed several executive functioning tasks and a measure of anxiety. Parental demandingness was rated based on an observation of parent-child interactions. The children completed the anxiety measure again at one-year follow-up. The results showed that parental demandingness significantly moderated the prospective relationship between executive functioning deficits and anxiety, such that the association between executive functioning deficits and anxiety in children was weaker when parental demandingness was lower. These findings suggest that low parental demandingness may serve as a protective factor that buffers the detrimental effects of executive functioning deficits on anxiety.

Examination of Executive Function and Social Phobia Among Female College-Aged Students With Celiac Disease

Celiac disease (CD) is a T-cell mediated genetically inherited autoimmune disease affecting approximately 1% of the population. Research suggests that CD impacts executive functioning (EF) and social phobia (SP). However, most of the literature in this area focuses on age groups outside of the traditional college age range and has never measured EF and SP together. This descriptive study compared traditional age female college students with CD to age- and sex-matched college students without CD on measures of EF and SP. Participants completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult version (BRIEF-A), the Social Anxiety Questionnaire for Adults-Short Form (SAQ-A30), and a demographic questionnaire. Results indicated that participants with CD reported lower grade point averages; scored lower on BRIEF-A measures of working memory, planning/organization, and organization of materials; and scored higher on SAQ-A30 measures involving interactions with the opposite sex and strangers. Implications for nursing practice are discussed. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 57(2), 25-34.].

Executive Function in Autism Spectrum Disorder: History, Theoretical Models, Empirical Findings, and Potential as an Endophenotype

This review presents an outline of executive function (EF) and its application to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The development of the EF construct, theoretical models of EF, and limitations in the study of EF are outlined. The potential of EF as a cognitive endophenotype for ASD is reviewed, and the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework is discussed for researching EF in ASD given the multifaceted factors that influence EF performance. A number of executive-focused cognitive models have been proposed to explain the symptom clusters observed in ASD. Empirical studies suggest a broad impairment in EF, although there is significant inter-individual variability in EF performance. The observed heterogeneity of EF performance is considered a limiting factor in establishing EF as a cognitive endophenotype in ASD. We propose, however, that this variability in EF performance presents an opportunity for subtyping within the spectrum that can contribute to targeted diagnostic and intervention strategies. Enhanced understanding of the neurobiological basis that underpins EF performance, such as the excitation/inhibition hypothesis, will likely be important. Application of the RDoC framework could provide clarity on the nature of EF impairment in ASD with potential for greater understanding of, and improved interventions for, this disorder.

Executive Functions in Students With Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms

Introduction:

This study aimed to investigate and compare the executive functions of students with depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms with those functions in healthy ones.

Methods:

This study was a comparative and non-clinical analysis. The study population comprised all students of Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. A total of 448 students were recruited using convenience sampling method. They were also screened using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) test comprising 21 items. Of study participants, 30 people were depressed, 27 had anxiety, and 15 suffered from stress. Then, 50 control people were matched with them. Next, both groups were compared using the Stroop test, Wisconsin card sorting, and cognitive ability test.

Results:

Using MANOVA test, data analysis revealed no significant differences among 4 groups with regard to selective attention and shifting attention. Depressed group reacted rapidly as opposed to the anxiety group with regard to measures of shifting attention and cognitive abilities; it was observed that the memory, inhibition control, planning, and flexibility of the healthy group were better than those of the 3 other groups.

Conclusion:

The findings of this research raised specific issues in relation to the role of depression, anxiety, and stress in the disruption of the executive functions of sufferers. Selective and shifting attention and cognitive abilities are specifically affected in this regard. Meanwhile, the role of stress in impairing decision making and the major role of anxiety in impairing sustained attention was shown to be considerable.

Behavior characteristics of the attention network of military personnel with high and low trait anxiety

Converging evidence reveals significant increase in both state anxiety and trait anxiety during the past 2 decades among military servicemen and servicewomen in China. In the present study, we employed the Chinese version of the State-trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to examine trait and state anxiety in Chinese military servicemen and servicewomen. We further evaluated orienting, alerting and execution inhibition using the attention network test.Healthy military servicemen and servicewomen were recruited for the present study. The STAI was used to measure both state and trait anxiety and the attention network test was done to determine reaction time and accuracy rate.Fifty-seven subjects were eligible for the study. Their mean STAI score was 3.2 ± 2.8 (range, 1-17) and 29 (50.9%) subjects were categorized into the high trait anxiety group and 28 (49.1%) subjects into the low trait anxiety group. The reaction time of the high trait anxiety group to incongruent, congruent, and neutral target was significantly longer than that of the low trait anxiety group (P < .05). Moreover, the accurate rate of the high trait anxiety group for incongruent, congruent, and neutral target was significantly higher than that of the low trait anxiety group (P < .05). Repeated analysis of variance showed marked effect of trait anxiety, cue types, and target types on reaction time. There was significant interaction among trait anxiety, target types, and cue types. Trait anxiety and target types also had marked effect on the accurate rate. Multivariate analysis showed no marked effect of trait anxiety on the alerting, orienting, and execution inhibition subnetwork.The present study has demonstrated that military service personnel with high trait anxiety requires more time for cognitive processing of external information but exhibits enhanced reaction accuracy rate compared to those with low trait anxiety. Our findings indicate that interventional strategies to improve the psychological wellbeing of military service personnel should be implemented to improve combat mission performance.

Cognitive Control Deficits in Shifting and Inhibition in Preschool Age Children are Associated with Increased Depression and Anxiety Over 7.5 Years of Development

Although depression and anxiety are common in youth (Costello et al. 2003), factors that put children at risk for such symptoms are not well understood. The current study examined associations between early childhood cognitive control deficits and depression and anxiety over the course of development through school age. Participants were 188 children (at baseline M = 5.42 years, SD = 0.79 years) and their primary caregiver. Caregivers completed ratings of children's executive functioning at preschool age and measures of depression and anxiety severity over seven assessment waves (a period of approximately 7.5 years). Longitudinal multilevel linear models were used to examine the effect of attention shifting and inhibition deficits on depression and anxiety. Inhibition deficits at preschool were associated with significantly greater depression severity scores at each subsequent assessment wave (up until 7.5 years later). Inhibition deficits were associated with greater anxiety severity from 3.5 to 7.5 years later. Greater shifting deficits at preschool age were associated with greater depression severity up to 5.5 years later. Shifting deficits were also associated with significantly greater anxiety severity up to 3.5 years later. Importantly, these effects were significant even after accounting for the influence of other key predictors including assessment wave/time, gender, parental education, IQ, and symptom severity at preschool age, suggesting that effects are robust. Overall, findings indicate that cognitive control deficits are an early vulnerability factor for developing affective symptoms. Timely assessment and intervention may be beneficial as an early prevention strategy.

Effect of Yoga practice on reducing cognitive-motor interference for improving dynamic balance control in healthy adults

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of Yoga on reducing cognitive-motor interference (CMI) for maintaining balance control during varied balance tasks.

METHOD

Yoga (N=10) and age-similar non-practitioners (N=10) performed three balance tasks including the Limits of Stability test (LOS - Intentional balance), Motor Control test (MCT - Reactive balance), and Sensory Organization Test (SOT -condition 6: inducing both somatosensory and visual conflicts) under single-task (ST) and dual-task (DT, addition of a cognitive working memory task) conditions. The motor performance was assessed by recording the response time (RT) and movement velocity (MV) of the center of pressure (CoP) on LOS test, weight symmetry (WS) of CoP on the MCT test and equilibrium (EQ) of CoP on the SOT test. Cognitive performance was recorded as the number of correct responses enumerated in sitting (ST) and under DT conditions. The Motor cost (MC) and cognitive cost (CC) were computed using the formula ([ST-DT]/ST)*100 for all the variables. Greater cost indicates lower performance under DT versus ST condition.

RESULTS

The Yoga group showed a significantly lesser MC for both MCT and SOT tests (p<0.05) in comparison to their counterparts. The CC were significantly lower on LOS and MCT test for the Yoga group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that Yoga practice can significantly reduce CMI by improving allocation and utilization of attentional resources for both balance control and executive cognitive functioning; thus resulting in better performance under DT conditions.

Effect of trait anxiety on cognitive test performance in adolescents with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

INTRODUCTION

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety are frequently comorbid disorders associated with different types of abnormal performance on neuropsychological tests. Although some studies have shown that comorbid anxiety alters ADHD test performance, results inconsistently show both improvements and worsening of different abilities, with failures to replicate across different anxiety disorders. Alternatively, trait anxiety may reflect a more stable influence on ADHD test performance than various diagnosable anxiety disorders.

METHOD

To better understand the possible enhancing or deleterious effects of anxiety on ADHD cognitive impairments, this study examined the effect of individual differences in trait anxiety measured by the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) on a battery of computerized, rapid-performance tests measuring attention and impulsivity-related performance in 98 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) Combined-Subtype ADHD adolescents and 123 healthy controls. It was hypothesized that trait anxiety would attenuate response inhibition and attention deficits in ADHD.

RESULTS

ADHD-diagnosed adolescents with higher trait anxiety performed better on indices of sustained attention, reaction time, and motor variability, and had altered overall test-performance strategy, while response inhibition was affected in both ADHD and non-ADHD.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the first evidence that pathological levels of anxiety are not needed to see differences in ADHD neuropsychological test performance. Instead, mildly elevated trait anxiety confers a protective influence by reducing the degree of impairment seen in ADHD. These findings suggest that better performing ADHD adolescents might have optimized levels of cortical arousal, and raise new questions about how best to identify the neurobiological substrates responsible for the beneficial effects.

Executive Functioning Profiles and Test Anxiety in College Students

The current study attempted to answer whether a specific executive functioning profile for individuals with test anxiety exists and whether deficits in working memory are associated with an earlier onset of test anxiety. Two hundred eighty-four undergraduate students completed a survey on test anxiety and self-report measures of test anxiety and executive functioning. Executive functioning profiles were compared between test anxiety groups (below average, average, and above average) for differences in severity and pattern. Onset of test anxiety was analyzed in relation to working memory. Executive functioning profiles were found to significantly vary in severity and pattern based on level of test anxiety. Working memory varied significantly based on onset of test anxiety. These results suggest that deficits across multiple areas of executive functioning may provide a more robust etiology for test anxiety. In addition, working memory deficits may be an early indicator for the development of test anxiety.

Trait Anxiety Has Effect on Decision Making under Ambiguity but Not Decision Making under Risk

Previous studies have reported that trait anxiety (TA) affects decision making. However, results remain largely inconsistent across studies. The aim of the current study was to further address the interaction between TA and decision making. 304 subjects without depression from a sample consisting of 642 participants were grouped into high TA (HTA), medium TA (MTA) and low TA (LTA) groups based on their TA scores from State Trait Anxiety Inventory. All subjects were assessed with the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) that measures decision making under ambiguity and the Game of Dice Task (GDT) that measures decision making under risk. While the HTA and LTA groups performed worse on the IGT compared to the MTA group, performances on the GDT between the three groups did not differ. Furthermore, the LTA and HTA groups showed different individual deck level preferences in the IGT: the former showed a preference for deck B indicating that these subjects focused more on the magnitude of rewards, and the latter showed a preference for deck A indicating significant decision making impairment. Our findings suggest that trait anxiety has effect on decision making under ambiguity but not decision making under risk and different levels of trait anxiety related differently to individual deck level preferences in the IGT.

Seven-year predictors of self-rated health and life satisfaction in the elderly: the PROOF study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationship between cognitive performance, affective state, metabolic syndrome and 7-year follow-up self-rated health (SRH) and perceived life satisfaction (PLS).

DESIGN

Analysis of a prospective cohort study.

SETTING

The PROOF study, including 1011 elderly community residents.

PARTICIPANTS

Six hundred and fifty seven subjects completed metabolic syndrome (Met S) variables, neuropsychological and affective measurements at baseline, and then returned a 7-year follow-up questionnaire which included SRH and PLS.

MEASUREMENTS

The prospective association between cognitive function, Met S and each of its components, and affective disorders and subsequent subjective health and quality of life was examined. Covariates included educational level and use of tobacco. The analyses were made in men and women separately.

RESULTS

In multivariate models, the presence of Met S was significantly associated to weaker SRH (OR = 2.78, p = 0.009 in men and OR = 2.0, p = 0.02 in women). Higher triglycerides rate were associated with weaker SRH in men (OR = 2.23, p = 0.002) and higher fasting glucose in women (OR = 2.54, p = 0.006). Global Met S and abdominal obesity was significantly associated to weaker PLS in women only (respectively OR = 2.70, p = 0.0002 and OR = 1.9, p = 0.02). Depressive symptoms were significantly associated to both weaker SRH and PLS in men (OR = 1.30, p = 0.002; OR = 1.44, p < 0.0001 for SRH and PLS respectively) and in woman (OR = 1.09, p = 0.04; OR = 1.26, p < 0.0001 for SRH and PLS respectively). Anxiety was linked to both weaker SRH and PLS in women (OR = 1.17, p = 0.002 and 0R = 1.11, p = 0.03 for SRH and PLS respectively). Finally, lower executive function was associated with weaker PLS in men (OR = 0.43, p = 0.0005).

CONCLUSION

metabolic syndrome and certain of its components, anxiety and depressive symptoms, are independent predictors of poorer subjective health and quality of life as assessed over a period of 7 years in a population of a non-demented aging community. Moreover, executive performance was linked to subsequent quality of life in men. Many of these factors being treatable, our findings point to the necessity of providing preventive care strategies by the management of cardiovascular risk factors and anxio-depressive symptoms.

Individual differences in behavioral and cardiovascular reactivity to emotive stimuli and their relationship to cognitive flexibility in a primate model of trait anxiety

High trait anxiety is a risk factor for the development of anxiety disorders. Like the disorders themselves high trait anxiety has marked phenotypic variation at the level of symptomatology and neural circuits, suggesting that there may be different symptoms and distinct neural circuits associated with risk for these disorders. To address these issues, it is essential to develop reliable animal models of trait anxiety in a non-human primate whose brain bears structural and functional similarity to humans. The present study investigated individual variation in responsivity to fearful and anxiety provoking stimuli in the common marmoset monkey. Seven out of 27 animals failed to display discriminative, conditioned cardiovascular and behavioral responses on an auditory fear discrimination task, similar to that seen in high anxious humans and rodents. Their heightened emotionality to a rubber snake was consistent with the hypothesis that they were high in trait-like anxiety. Evidence for phenotypic variation in the high anxiety group was provided by the finding that discrimination failure was predicted early in conditioning by either hyper-vigilant scanning to the cues or a reduction in blood pressure to the context, i.e., test apparatus. Given that high trait anxiety in humans can be associated with altered prefrontal cognitive functioning and previously we implicated the marmoset anterior orbitofrontal (antOFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) in negative emotion regulation, we also tested the marmosets on two tests of cognitive flexibility differentially dependent on these two regions. While the high anxious group did not differ overall in their perseverative performance, the two distinct phenotypes were differentially correlated with reduced perseverative responding on the OFC- and vlPFC-dependent flexibility tests. Together, this study provides a new model of trait anxiety in marmosets amenable to analysis of phenotypic variation and neural circuitry.