# The Impact of Test Anxiety and Cognitive Stress on Error-Related Brain Activity

## TL;DR

This study examines how test anxiety and cognitive stress affect brain activity related to error monitoring, finding that error sensitivity is more linked to trait anxiety than temporary stress.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how trait test anxiety influences error-related brain activity more than transient stress.

## Key findings

- High test anxiety individuals showed larger error-related negativity (ERN) amplitudes compared to low test anxiety individuals.
- Cognitive stress did not significantly alter ERN, correct-response negativity (CRN), or ΔERN amplitudes.
- Error sensitivity appears more related to trait test anxiety than to temporary stress conditions.

## Abstract

Test anxiety is considered to affect individuals’ cognitive control and task performance, particularly in error monitoring. While previous research has explored the relationship between anxiety and cognitive performance, this study aims to investigate the impact of test anxiety and cognitive stress on error processing, focusing on changes in error-related negativity (ERN). Participants were divided into high test anxiety (HTA) and low test anxiety (LTA) groups based on their scores on the Test Anxiety Scale (TAS). Cognitive stress was induced by administering the Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices test, accompanied by instructions that emphasized score comparison with others. Participants completed the Subjective Test Anxiety Scale (STAS), the Short State Anxiety Inventory (SSAI), and a Flanker task before and after the stress manipulation. The effectiveness of the stress manipulation was confirmed by significant increases in STAS and SSAI scores and changes in behavioral performance. EEG data were recorded to analyze ERN, correct-response negativity (CRN), and ΔERN (ERN minus the CRN) amplitudes. HTA individuals exhibited a trend toward larger ERN amplitudes than LTA counterparts, indicating heightened sensitivity to errors. However, no significant changes in ERN amplitudes were observed between pre- and post-stress conditions. CRN and ΔERN amplitudes also showed no significant differences across anxiety groups or stress conditions. ERN changes appear to be more closely related to trait test anxiety than to transient stress.