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Overhoff H, Ko YH, Feuerriegel D, Fink GR, Stahl J, Weiss PH, Bode S, Niessen E. Neural correlates of metacognition across the adult lifespan. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 108:34-46. [PMID: 34487950 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Metacognitive accuracy describes the degree of overlap between the subjective perception of one's decision accuracy (i.e. confidence) and objectively observed performance. With older age, the need for accurate metacognitive evaluation increases; however, error detection rates typically decrease. We investigated the effect of ageing on metacognitive accuracy using event-related potentials (ERPs) reflecting error detection and confidence: the error/correct negativity (Ne/c) and the error/correct positivity (Pe/c). Sixty-five healthy adults (20 to 76 years) completed a complex Flanker task and provided confidence ratings. We found that metacognitive accuracy declined with age beyond the expected decline in task performance, while the adaptive adjustment of behaviour was well preserved. Pe amplitudes following errors varied by confidence rating, but they did not mirror the reduction in metacognitive accuracy. Ne amplitudes decreased with age for low confidence errors. The results suggest that age-related difficulties in metacognitive evaluation could be related to an impaired integration of decision accuracy and confidence information processing. Ultimately, training the metacognitive evaluation of fundamental decisions in older adults might constitute a promising endeavour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Overhoff
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Yiu Hong Ko
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Daniel Feuerriegel
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gereon R Fink
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jutta Stahl
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter H Weiss
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Center Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Stefan Bode
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Eva Niessen
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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2
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Stahl J, Mattes A, Hundrieser M, Kummer K, Mück M, Niessen E, Porth E, Siswandari Y, Wolters P, Dummel S. Neural correlates of error detection during complex response selection: Introduction of a novel eight-alternative response task. Biol Psychol 2020; 156:107969. [PMID: 33058968 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2020.107969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Error processing in complex decision tasks should be more difficult compared to a simple and commonly used two-choice task. We developed an eight-alternative response task (8ART), which allowed us to investigate different aspects of error detection. We analysed event-related potentials (ERP; N = 30). Interestingly, the response time moderated several findings. For example, only for fast responses, we observed the well-known effect of larger error negativity (Ne) in signalled and non-signalled errors compared to correct responses, but not for slow responses. We identified at least two different error sources due to post-experimental reports and certainty ratings: impulsive (fast) errors and (slow) memory errors. Interestingly, the participants were able to perform the task and to identify both, impulsive and memory errors successfully. Preliminary evidence indicated that early (Ne-related) error processing was not sensitive to memory errors but to impulsive errors, whereas the error positivity seemed to be sensitive to both error types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jutta Stahl
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany.
| | - André Mattes
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Manuela Hundrieser
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Kilian Kummer
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Markus Mück
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Eva Niessen
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany; Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Juelich, Germany; Institute of Neuroscience & Psychology, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Porth
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Yohana Siswandari
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter Wolters
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dummel
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany
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3
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Niessen E, Ant JM, Bode S, Saliger J, Karbe H, Fink GR, Stahl J, Weiss PH. Preserved performance monitoring and error detection in left hemisphere stroke. Neuroimage Clin 2020; 27:102307. [PMID: 32570207 PMCID: PMC7306623 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Depending on the lesion site, a stroke typically affects various aspects of cognitive control. While executing a task, the performance monitoring system constantly compares an intended action plan with the executed action and thereby registers inaccurate actions in case of any mismatch. When errors occur, the performance monitoring system signals the need for more cognitive control, which is most efficient when the subject notices errors rather than processing them subconsciously. The current study aimed to investigate performance monitoring and error detection in a large sample of patients with left hemisphere (LH) stroke. In addition to clinical and neuropsychological tests, 24 LH stroke patients and 32 healthy age-matched controls performed a Go/Nogo task with simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) measurements. This set-up enabled us to compare performance monitoring at the behavioral and the neural level. EEG data were analyzed using event-related potentials [ERPs; e.g., the error-related negativity (Ne/ERN) and error positivity (Pe)] and additionally more sensitive whole-brain multivariate pattern classification analyses (MVPA). We hypothesized that LH stroke patients would show behavioural deficits in error detection when compared to healthy controls, mirrored by differences in neural signals, in particular reflected in the Pe component. Interestingly, despite clinically relevant cognitive deficits (e.g., aphasia and apraxia) including executive dysfunction (trail making test), we did not observe any behavioral impairments related to performance monitoring and error processing in the current LH stroke patients. Patients also showed similar results for Ne/ERN and Pe components, compared to the control group, and a highly similar prediction of errors from multivariate signals. ERP abnormalities during stimulus processing (i.e., N2 and P3) demonstrated the specificity of these findings in the current LH stroke patients. In contrast to previous studies, by employing a relatively large patient sample, a well-controlled experimental paradigm with a standardized error signaling procedure, and advanced data analysis, we were able to show that performance monitoring (of simple actions) is a preserved cognitive control function in LH stroke patients that might constitute a useful resource in rehabilitative therapies for re-learning impeded functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Niessen
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Germany.
| | - Jana M Ant
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, Germany
| | - Stefan Bode
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia; Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Hans Karbe
- Neurological Rehabilitation Centre Godeshöhe, Germany
| | - Gereon R Fink
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Germany; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, Germany
| | - Jutta Stahl
- Department of Individual Differences and Psychological Assessment, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Peter H Weiss
- Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-3), Research Centre Jülich, Germany; University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department of Neurology, Germany
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4
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Wang L, Gu Y, Zhao G, Chen A. Error-related negativity and error awareness in a Go/No-go task. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4026. [PMID: 32132619 PMCID: PMC7055303 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60693-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Error monitoring is crucial for the conscious error perception, however, the role of early error monitoring in error awareness remains unclear. Here, we investigated the relation between the ERN and error-related theta oscillations and the emergence of error awareness by conducting time- and phase-locked averaging analysis based on 4-8 Hz filtered data and phase-locked time frequency analysis. Results showed that while the ERN did not differ significantly between aware and unaware errors, theta power was stronger for aware errors than for unaware errors. Further, when continuous EEG was filtered outside the theta band, the ERN results confirmed this pattern. Additionally, when the non-phase-locked component was removed from continuous EEG, stronger theta power was still observed in aware errors compared to unaware errors. Collectively, these findings may suggest that (1) the ERN emerges from phase-locked component of theta band EEG activities; (2) the ERN engages in conscious error perception and serves the emerging error awareness through the activity of theta oscillations. Thus, early error monitoring is a precursor to error awareness, but this relationship is masked by high-frequency activity in aware errors when the ERN is not filtered outside the theta band in the Go/No-go task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Wang
- Institute of cognition, brain and health, School of Education, HeNan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Yan Gu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Guoxiang Zhao
- Faculty of Education, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Antao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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Scheper I, de Bruijn ERA, Bertens D, Kessels RPC, Brazil IA. The impact of error frequency on errorless and errorful learning of object locations using a novel paradigm. Memory 2019; 27:1371-1380. [DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2019.1661493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Inge Scheper
- Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Ellen R. A. de Bruijn
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Dirk Bertens
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Klimmendaal Rehabilitation Specialists, Arnhem, Netherlands
| | - Roy P. C. Kessels
- Department of Medical Psychology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Vincent van Gogh Institute for Psychiatry, Venray, Netherlands
| | - Inti A. Brazil
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Division Diagnostics, Research, & Education, Forensic Psychiatric Centre Pompestichting, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Brain, Belief and Behaviour Lab, Coventry University, Coventry, UK
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Abstract
The idea that conflict detection triggers control adjustments has been considered a basic principle of cognitive control. So far, this "conflict-control loop" has mainly been investigated in the context of response conflicts in single tasks. In this theoretical position paper, we explore whether, and how, this principle might be involved in multitasking performance, as well. We argue that several kinds of conflict-control loops can be identified in multitasking at multiple levels (e.g., the response level and the task level), and we provide a selective review of empirical observations. We present examples of conflict monitoring and control adjustments in dual-task and task-switching paradigms, followed by a section on error monitoring and posterror adjustments in multitasking. We conclude by outlining future research questions regarding monitoring and control in multitasking, including the potential roles of affect and associative learning for conflict-control loops in multitasking.
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Payne AM, Ting LH, Hajcak G. Do sensorimotor perturbations to standing balance elicit an error-related negativity? Psychophysiology 2019; 56:e13359. [PMID: 30820966 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Detecting and correcting errors is essential to successful action. Studies on response monitoring have examined scalp ERPs following the commission of motor slips in speeded-response tasks, focusing on a frontocentral negativity (i.e., error-related negativity or ERN). Sensorimotor neurophysiologists investigating cortical monitoring of reactive balance recovery behavior observe a strikingly similar pattern of scalp ERPs following externally imposed postural errors, including a brief frontocentral negativity that has been referred to as the balance N1. We integrate and review relevant literature from these discrepant fields to suggest shared underlying mechanisms and potential benefits of collaboration across fields. Unlike the cognitive tasks leveraged to study the ERN, balance perturbations afford precise experimental control of postural errors to elicit balance N1s that are an order of magnitude larger than the ERN and drive robust and well-characterized adaptation of behavior within an experimental session. Many factors that modulate the ERN, including motivation, perceived consequences, perceptual salience, expectation, development, and aging, are likewise known to modulate the balance N1. We propose that the ERN and balance N1 reflect common neural activity for detecting errors. Collaboration across fields could help clarify the functional significance of the ERN and poorly understood interactions between motor and cognitive impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiden M Payne
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lena H Ting
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Division of Physical Therapy, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Greg Hajcak
- Departments of Psychology and Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
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Maier ME, Ernst B, Steinhauser M. Error-related pupil dilation is sensitive to the evaluation of different error types. Biol Psychol 2018; 141:25-34. [PMID: 30597189 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2018.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Adjusting behavior following errors is essential for successful goal-directed performance. Error-related pupil dilation indicates increased autonomic arousal and has been shown to predict adaptive adjustments of post-error behavior. Because different types of errors may require different behavioral adjustments, we investigated whether this process is also sensitive to the evaluation of different types of errors. We used a four-choice flanker task where errors occur either by pressing a button associated with the distractors (flanker errors), or by pressing a button not associated with the stimulus at all (nonflanker errors). Flanker errors imply suboptimal selective attention to the target and are therefore of increased significance for successful performance. Pupil dilation was larger for flanker errors than nonflanker errors, and only pupil dilation on flanker errors predicted a decrease of error probability on the next trial. Moreover, the error-related negativity, an electrophysiological marker of early error monitoring in the medial frontal cortex, was larger on flanker errors anticipating the effect of error type on pupil dilation. These results show that error-related pupil dilation is sensitive to the type and significance of errors and correlates with adaptive behavioral adjustments accordingly. This suggests that mechanisms underlying error-related pupil dilation receive inputs from error evaluation mechanisms in the medial frontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin E Maier
- Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Ostenstraße 25, D-85072, Eichstätt, Germany.
| | - Benjamin Ernst
- Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Ostenstraße 25, D-85072, Eichstätt, Germany
| | - Marco Steinhauser
- Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, Ostenstraße 25, D-85072, Eichstätt, Germany
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Gorday JY, Meyer A. Linking puberty and error-monitoring: Relationships between self-reported pubertal stages, pubertal hormones, and the error-related negativity in a large sample of children and adolescents. Dev Psychobiol 2018; 60:483-490. [PMID: 29630723 DOI: 10.1002/dev.21625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The error-related negativity (ERN) is a negative deflection in the event-related potential occurring when individuals make mistakes. The ERN has been proposed as a biomarker for anxiety and a substantial amount of research suggests the ERN increases across development. Further, the ERN may relate to individual differences and the development of cognitive control. Despite the large quantity of research on this topic, there have been no studies focusing on the relationship between pubertal hormones and the ERN. Previous work suggests developmental increases may begin sooner for girls than for boys, suggesting that puberty may impact the ERN. The current study examined the relationship between pubertal hormones and the ERN amplitude in a sample of 99 females between 8 and 14 years old. Each participant and the parent who accompanied them completed the Pubertal Developmental Scale (PDS) to assess the degree to which pubertal indicators are present. Participants also completed a Go/NoGo Task while EEG was recorded and participants provided saliva samples for hormone assays. Results indicated that ERN was significantly related to both the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormone and PDS scores. A simultaneous multivariate regression suggested that DHEA levels significantly predict the ERN, even when controlling for age, behavioral variables, and PDS. These findings suggest that ERN amplitude is related to DHEA levels, further linking puberty to developmental increases in the ERN. Future research should examine this relationship in the context of developmental increases in anxiety symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Y Gorday
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Alexandria Meyer
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
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Meyer A. A biomarker of anxiety in children and adolescents: A review focusing on the error-related negativity (ERN) and anxiety across development. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2017; 27:58-68. [PMID: 28818707 PMCID: PMC6987910 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety disorders are the most common form of psychopathology and often begin early in development. Therefore, there is interest in identifying neural biomarkers that characterize pathways leading to anxiety disorders early in the course of development. A substantial amount of work focuses on the error-related negativity (ERN) as a biomarker of anxiety. While two previous reviews have focused on the relationship of the ERN and anxiety in adults, no previous review has focused on this issue in children and adolescents. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Overall, 22 studies were included in the current review. A number of patterns emerged, including: 1.) The ERN is enhanced in clinically anxious children at all ages (6-18 years old), regardless of the task used to measure the ERN. 2.) Studies focusing on anxiety symptoms and temperamental fear suggest that the relationship between the ERN and normative anxiety may change across development. 3.) The ERN can predict the onset of anxiety disorders across different developmental periods. 4.) The ERN relates to other markers of risk for anxiety (e.g., aversive startle potentiation) in children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria Meyer
- Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W Call St., Tallahassee, FL 32303, United States.
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Schroder HS, Moran TP, Moser JS. The effect of expressive writing on the error-related negativity among individuals with chronic worry. Psychophysiology 2017; 55. [PMID: 28884815 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.12990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The error-related negativity (ERN), an ERP elicited immediately after errors, is enlarged among individuals with anxiety. The relationship between anxiety and enlarged ERN has spurred interest in understanding potential therapeutic benefits of decreasing its amplitude within anxious individuals. The current study used a tailored intervention-expressive writing-in an attempt to reduce the ERN among a sample of individuals with chronic worry. Consistent with hypotheses, the ERN was reduced in the expressive writing group compared to an unrelated writing control group. Findings provide experimental support that the ERN can be reduced among anxious individuals with tailored interventions. Expressive writing may serve to "offload" worries from working memory, therefore relieving the distracting effects of worry on cognition as reflected in a decreased ERN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans S Schroder
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tim P Moran
- School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jason S Moser
- Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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