The moderating role of externalizing problems on the association between anxiety and the error‐related negativity in youth

• DOI: 10.1002/dev.22023
• Publication Date: 2020-08-03T01:54:21Z
• Authors: Jennifer H. Suor; Maria Granros; Autumn Kujawa; Kate D. Fitzgerald; Christopher S. Monk; K Luan Phan; Katie L. Burkhouse
• Keywords: Error-related negativity; Association (psychology); Externalization

The error-related negativity (ERN) is an event-related potential that reflects error monitoring. Enhanced ERN indicates sensitivity to performance errors and a correlate of anxiety disorders. In contrast, youth with externalizing problems exhibit reduced ERN, suggesting decreased Anxiety commonly co-occur in youth, but no studies have tested how comorbidity might modulate the ERN. sample (N = 46, ages 7-19) without disorders, this preliminary study examined interactive effect on Results suggest moderate relation between symptoms youth. Anxious less exhibited enhanced response errors. Conversely, anxious greater demonstrated diminished regions significance proportion affected tests indicated moderating was only significant for Findings neural could be specific neurophysiological marker whereas individuals comorbid demonstrate monitoring, similar those primary pathology. underscore utility examining correlates pediatric subtypes.