Temperamental Shyness, Frontal EEG Theta/Beta Ratio, and Social Anxiety in Children

Abstract

The authors examined how children's frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) theta/beta ratio-an index of neurocognitive control-changed from baseline to a social stressor, and whether these EEG changes moderated the relation between temperament and anxiety. Children (N = 152; M age = 7.82 years, 52% male, 81% White) had their EEG recorded during a baseline and speech anticipation condition. Children's frontal theta/beta ratio decreased from baseline to speech anticipation, and this baseline-to-task change moderated the relation between temperamental shyness and social anxiety. Temperamental shyness was related to higher state and trait social anxiety only among children with large baseline-to-task decreases in theta/beta ratio. Findings are consistent with theoretical models hypothesizing that temperamentally shy children with heightened neurocognitive control may be at greater risk for anxiety.

Shyness, inhibitory control, and social support seeking in preschoolers: Role of familiar and unfamiliar contexts.

“…In the unfamiliar condition, we found that shyness was negatively associated with social support seeking at high levels of inhibitory control and unrelated to social support seeking at low levels of inhibitory control. These results are in line with previous studies that have examined the moderating role of a physiological, behavioral, or temperamental index of inhibitory control in the relation between shyness or related constructs and various psychosocial outcomes (Brooker et al, 2016;Henderson, 2010;Lahat et al, 2014;Lamm et al, 2014;Poole et al, 2021;Sette et al, 2018;Thorell et al, 2004;Troller-Renfree et al, 2019;White et al, 2011). Together, these studies converge with our findings to suggest that, at least in an unfamiliar context, higher levels of inhibitory control interfere with more positive and approach-related socioemotional and psychological outcomes, and in this case, observed social support seeking.…”

“…The present study had several strengths, including the use of a relatively large sample and the extension of a burgeoning contemporary developmental theory of shyness and self-regulation (Brooker et al, 2016; Hassan et al, 2020; Henderson, 2010; Henderson et al, 2015; Henderson & Wilson, 2017; Lahat et al, 2014; Lamm et al, 2014; Poole et al, 2021; Sette et al, 2018; White et al, 2011) to different contexts using a between-subjects design experimentally manipulating contextual familiarity, and the use various indices of inhibitory control and observed social behavior. However, notwithstanding these strengths, the results should be interpreted within their limitations.…”

“…The sample size was determined by conducting a power analysis in G∗Power for linear regression (Faul et al, 2007). Although no study, to our knowledge, has examined the three-way interaction among shyness, self-regulation, and a binary third variable, we used the average effect size ( f 2 = .40) from three previous studies that examined the moderating role of self-regulation in the relation between shyness and socioemotional outcomes and that reported effect sizes (Henderson, 2010; Poole et al, 2021; Sette et al, 2018). This power analysis revealed that for our objective of examining the two-way interaction between shyness and inhibitory control in predicting social behavior, we would require a minimum sample size of 35 participants (Power = .80, α = .05).…”

Initial study on quantitative electroencephalographic analysis of bioelectrical activity of the brain of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) without epilepsy

“…Generally, an increased theta/beta ratio is believed to exhibit a lower tendency to self-reported attention control 65,66 , therefore our finding is fully consistent with the knowledge regarding the neuropsychological issues characteristic for FASD patients 67 . This is also because the cognitive deficits, in particular those related with executive functions, are the most important part of the FASD clinical picture 68,69 and significantly contribute to the patients' disability 70 .…”

Prenatal exposure to air pollution and childhood internalizing problems: roles of shyness and anterior cingulate cortex activity

“…Shyness is a key risk factor for the onset of internalizing problems (Liu, Calkins, & Bell, 2021; Poole, Hassan, & Schmidt, 2021) and refers to heightened wariness and anxiety when faced with novel people and situations (Rubin, Coplan, & Bowker, 2009). Other risk markers for internalizing problems that share conceptual similarities with shyness include behavioral inhibition, social wariness, and fear (Buss et al, 2013; Fox et al, 2021).…”