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. 2019 Jan;47(1):119-129.
doi: 10.1007/s10802-018-0424-8.

Neural Correlates of Attentional Processing of Threat in Youth with and without Anxiety Disorders

Michele Bechor  1 , Michelle L Ramos  2 , Michael J Crowley  3 , Wendy K Silverman  3 , Jeremy W Pettit  2 , Bethany C Reeb-Sutherland  2
Affiliations

Neural Correlates of Attentional Processing of Threat in Youth with and without Anxiety Disorders

Michele Bechor et al. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2019 Jan.

Abstract

Late-stage attentional processing of threatening stimuli, quantified through event-related potentials (ERPs), differentiates youth with and without anxiety disorders. It is unknown whether early-stage attentional processing of threatening stimuli differentiates these groups. Examining both early and late stage attentional processes in youth may advance knowledge and enhance efforts to identify biomarkers for translational prevention and treatment research. Twenty-one youth with primary DSM-IV-TR anxiety disorders (10 males, ages 8-15 years) and 21 typically developing Controls (15 males, ages 8-16 years) completed a dot probe task while electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded, and ERPs were examined. Youth with anxiety disorders showed significantly larger (more positive) P1 amplitudes for threatening stimuli than for neutral stimuli, and Controls showed the opposite pattern. Youth with anxiety showed larger (more negative) N170 amplitudes compared with Controls. Controls showed significantly larger (more positive) P2 and P3 amplitudes, regardless of stimuli valence, compared with youth with anxiety disorders. ERPs observed during the dot probe task indicate youth with anxiety disorders display distinct neural processing during early stage attentional orienting and processing of faces; this was not the case for Controls. Such results suggest these ERP components may have potential as biomarkers of anxiety disorders in youth.

Keywords: Anxiety; Attention; Event-related potential; Youth.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Topographic maps for Anxiety and Control groups in Neutral-Threat (NT) and Neutral-Neutral (NN) trials during P1 (100–160 ms)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Grand average mean amplitude ERPs for youth with Anxiety versus Control youth during NT trials, (a) at all sites; grand average waveforms during NT trials across both groups (b) at site POz, and (c) at site Oz
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Grand average mean amplitude ERPs for youth with Anxiety versus Control youth during NN trials, (a) at all sites; grand average waveforms during NN trials across both groups (b) at site POz, and (c) at site Oz
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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