The development of the error-related negativity (ERN) and its relationship with anxiety: Evidence from 8 to 13 year-olds

Abstract

Because anxiety disorders appear to follow developmental trajectories that begin early in development, it may be useful to examine the neurodevelopmental correlates of specific cognitive processes that have been linked to anxiety. For instance, the error-related negativity (ERN) is a negative deflection in the event-related potential that is maximal approximately 50 ms following the commission of errors at fronto-central electrode sites, and has consistently been found to be more negative among anxious adults. Much less, however, is known about anxiety and the ERN in children—especially when this relationship develops. We recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) while 55 children aged 8 to 13 performed an arrow version of the flankers task. Parents and children both reported on children’s anxiety. Results suggest that the relationship between the ERN and anxiety changes as a function of age. Among older children, a larger (i.e., more negative) ERN was significantly related to increased anxiety based on parent report. Although the relationship was less robust, the relationship between ERN and anxiety was opposite among younger children. These results are discussed in terms of existing work on anxiety and the ERN, and the need for longitudinal and developmental studies on the relationship between ERN and anxiety.

Combining Neural and Behavioral Indicators in the Assessment of Internalizing Psychopathology in Children and Adolescents

“…Of importance, however, recent work suggests that the association between the ERN and internalizing may change across development. Specifically, Meyer, Weinberg, Klein, and Hajcak (2012) demonstrated, as in adults, enhanced ERN for anxious versus nonanxious older children (11-13 years), whereas somewhat smaller ERN was evident for anxious versus nonanxious younger children (8-10 years). In a recent follow-up study (Torpey et al, 2013), this research group showed that children even younger in age (6 years) characterized as highly fearful showed reduced ERN in comparison with typically developing less fearful peers.…”

What We’ve Learned From Mistakes

“…Importantly, the ERN can be elicited in children as young as 6 (Torpey, Hajcak, Kim, Kujawa, & Klein, 2012), if not younger. In a recent paper, we examined the relationship between ERN and anxiety as a function of age among 8-to 13-year-olds (Meyer, Weinberg, Klein, & Hajcak, 2012). We found that the relationship between ERN and anxiety was strongly moderated by age: Increased ERN was related to anxious symptoms, but only among older (i.e., 11-to 13-year-old) children.…”

A genetic variant brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphism interacts with hostile parenting to predict error-related brain activity and thereby risk for internalizing disorders in children

“…Individual variation in ERN magnitude is thought to index differences in sensitivity to error commission and defensive reactivity following mistakes (Hajcak, 2012; Weinberg, Riesel, & Hajcak, 2012). In keeping with the view that individuals with internalizing and externalizing tendencies have increased and decreased sensitivity to potential threat, respectively, studies have consistently found an increased ERN among internalizing individuals and a decreased ERN among externalizing individuals For example, work in adults and children suggests that the ERN magnitude is increased in individuals characterized by internalizing disorders or traits, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD; Carrasco et al, 2013; Endrass, Klawohn, Schuster, & Kathmann, 2008; Endrass et al, 2010; Gehring, Himle, & Nisenson, 2000; Hajcak, Franklin, Foa, & Simons, 2008; Riesel, Endrass, Kaufmann, & Kathmann, 2011; Ruchsow, Grön, et al, 2005), depression (Chiu & Deldin, 2007; Holmes & Pizzagalli, 2008, 2010; however, see: Olvet, Klein, & Hajcak, 2010; Weinberg, Klein, & Hajcak, 2012), generalized anxiety disorder (Weinberg, Olvet, & Hajcak, 2010; Xiao et al, 2011), heterogeneous anxiety disorders (Ladouceur, Dahl, Birmaher, Axelson, & Ryan, 2006; Meyer et al, 2013), OCD traits (Gründler, Cavanagh, Figueroa, Frank, & Allen, 2009; Hajcak & Simons, 2002; Santesso, Segalowitz, & Schmidt, 2006), trait anxiety (Meyer, Weinberg, Klein, & Hajcak, 2012; Pourtois et al, 2010), negative affect (Bush, Luu, & Posner, 2000; Hajcak, McDonald, & Simons, 2004), and behavioral inhibition (Amodio, Master, Yee, & Taylor, 2008; Boksem, Tops, Wester, Meijman, & Lorist, 2006; McDermott et al, 2009). In contrast, the ERN tends to be diminished in individuals characterized by externalizing disorders or traits, such as substance abuse (Franken, van Strien, Franzek, & van de Wetering, 2007; Luijten et al, 2014; Marhe, van de Wetering, & Franken, 2013), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; Albrecht et al, 2008; Groen et al, 2008; Hermann, Ziegler, Birbaumer, & Flor, 2002), psychopathy (Munro et al, 2007; Von Borries et al, 2010), trait impulsivity (Potts, George, Martin, & Barratt, 2006; Ruchsow, Spitzer, Grön, Grothe, & Kiefer, 2005), disinhibitory personality traits (Dikman & Allen, 2000), and externalizing traits (Hall, Bernat, & Patrick, 2007).…”