Dataset Information

Error-Specific Cognitive Control Alterations in Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

ABSTRACT: Trait anxiety is reliably associated with enhanced neural responses following errors: meta analyses have described how the electrophysiological response to errors known as the Error-Related Negativity (ERN) is increased in anxious individuals, particularly in relation to worry. The ERN has been related to a broader class of control signals, particularly via a common theta band denominator, but it is unknown whether worry relates to these alternative medial frontal metrics. Moreover, it is unclear if increased ERN in anxiety relates to altered cognitive control.In this report we examine EEG activities in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD, N=39) and control (CTL: N=52) participants during an executive control task. We leveraged a previously defined theta-band network to examine if an altered control signal in GAD underlies a differential implementation of cognitive control.GAD and CTL groups were reliably dissociated by both error- and conflict- related neural activity, in both the time and frequency (i.e. theta band) domains. Moreover, we demonstrate that ERN, error-related theta power, and the single trial correlation between theta and response time were unique predictors of GAD status. Overall, we were able to account for nearly 1/4 of the group variance and successfully classify GAD from control participants with 2/3 accuracy.Collectively, these findings suggest that multiple neural metrics of error processing may uniquely distinguish clinical anxiety from healthy individuals, and that mechanisms of control also differ in GAD; finally, these error-related neural measures have the potential to be sensitive and specific bio-signatures of anxiety.

SUBMITTER: Cavanagh JF

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5580396 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Error-Specific Cognitive Control Alterations in Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Cavanagh James F JF Meyer Alexandria A Hajcak Greg G

Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging 20170701 5

<h4>Background</h4>Trait anxiety is reliably associated with enhanced neural responses following errors: meta analyses have described how the electrophysiological response to errors known as the Error-Related Negativity (ERN) is increased in anxious individuals, particularly in relation to worry. The ERN has been related to a broader class of control signals, particularly via a common theta band denominator, but it is unknown whether worry relates to these alternative medial frontal metrics. Mor ...[more]

PMID: 28871288

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Project description:ObjectiveDeficits in reinforcement-based decision making have been reported in generalized anxiety disorder. However, the pathophysiology of these deficits is largely unknown; published studies have mainly examined adolescents, and the integrity of core functional processes underpinning decision making remains undetermined. In particular, it is unclear whether the representation of reinforcement prediction error (PE) (the difference between received and expected reinforcement) is disrupted in generalized anxiety disorder. This study addresses these issues in adults with the disorder.MethodForty-six unmedicated individuals with generalized anxiety disorder and 32 healthy comparison subjects group-matched on IQ, gender, and age performed a passive avoidance task while undergoing functional MRI. Data analyses were performed using a computational modeling approach.ResultsBehaviorally, individuals with generalized anxiety disorder showed impaired reinforcement-based decision making. Imaging results revealed that during feedback, individuals with generalized anxiety disorder relative to healthy subjects showed a reduced correlation between PE and activity within the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, ventral striatum, and other structures implicated in decision making. In addition, individuals with generalized anxiety disorder relative to healthy participants showed a reduced correlation between punishment PEs, but not reward PEs, and activity within the left and right lentiform nucleus/putamen.ConclusionsThis is the first study to identify computational impairments during decision making in generalized anxiety disorder. PE signaling is significantly disrupted in individuals with the disorder and may lead to their decision-making deficits and excessive worry about everyday problems by disrupting the online updating ("reality check") of the current relationship between the expected values of current response options and the actual received rewards and punishments.

Dataset Information

Error-Specific Cognitive Control Alterations in Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Publications

Error-Specific Cognitive Control Alterations in Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

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