Worry Induction and the Error-Related Negativity

Generalized anxiety disorder and trait worry have been associated with an enhanced error-related negativity (ERN). However, worry has been linked to cognitive avoidance that reduces negative emotional states, and it is unclear whether state worry enhances or attenuates the ERN. The present study examined the impact of state worry inductions on the ERN. The study involved separate samples of 242 participants (M_age = 19.89) who completed a task-irrelevant worry induction and 255 participants (M_age = 20.07) who completed a task-relevant worry induction. Across both samples, participants completed a flanker task while we recorded electroencephalography to measure the ERN before, during, and after the worry induction. Results indicated that both worry inductions enhanced negative affect and corrugator activity and reduced respiratory sinus arrhythmia. The task-irrelevant worry induction attenuated the ERN relative to pre-worry, but did not differ from post-worry. In contrast, the task-relevant worry induction enhanced the ERN relative to pre- and post-worry, but only in females and not males. The present study indicates that state worry impacts the ERN. Importantly, the task relevance of worry content dictated whether it attenuated or enhanced the ERN. We discuss implications for theoretical models of worry and the ERN.