Abstract

Math anxiety (MA) describes feelings of tension, apprehension and fear that interfere with math performance. High MA (HMA) is correlated with negative consequences, including lower math grades, and ultimately an avoidance of quantitative careers. Given these adverse consequences, it is essential to explore effective intervention strategies to reduce MA. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we investigated the efficacy of cognitive reappraisal as a strategy to alleviate the effects of MA. Cognitive reappraisal, an emotion regulation strategy, has been shown to decrease negative affect and amygdala responsivity to stimuli that elicit negative emotion. We compared a reappraisal strategy to participants’ natural strategy for solving math problems and analogies. We found that HMA individuals showed an increase in accuracy and a decrease in negative affect during the reappraisal condition as compared to the control condition. During math reappraise trials, increased activity in a network of regions associated with arithmetic correlated with improved performance for HMA individuals. These results suggest that increased engagement of arithmetic regions underlies the performance increases we identify in HMA students when they use reappraisal to augment their math performance. Overall, cognitive reappraisal is a promising strategy for enhancing math performance and reducing anxiety in math anxious individuals.

中文翻译：

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重新评估认知能力的神经证据，可减轻数学焦虑的影响

抽象的

数学焦虑（MA）描述了会干扰数学表现的紧张感，恐惧感和恐惧感。高MA（HMA）与负面后果相关，包括较低的数学成绩，并最终避免了量化职业。鉴于这些不利后果，必须探索有效的干预策略以减少MA。在目前的功能磁共振成像（fMRI）研究中，我们调查了认知再评估作为缓解MA影响的策略的功效。认知重新评估是一种情绪调节策略，已被证明可以减少负面影响和杏仁核对引起负面情绪的刺激的反应能力。我们将重新评估策略与参与者解决数学问题和类比的自然策略进行了比较。我们发现，与对照条件相比，HMA患者在重新评估条件下显示出准确性的提高和负面影响的减少。在数学重新评估试验中，与算术相关的区域网络活动的增加与HMA个人的表现改善有关。这些结果表明，增加算术区域的参与度是我们确定的HMA学生在使用重新评估来增强其数学成绩时的成绩提高的基础。总体而言，认知重新评估是提高数学表现和减少数学焦虑者焦虑的一种有前途的策略。与算术相关的区域网络中活动的增加与HMA个人的性能改善相关。这些结果表明，增加算术区域的参与度是我们确定的HMA学生在使用重新评估来增强其数学成绩时的成绩提高的基础。总体而言，认知重新评估是提高数学表现和减少数学焦虑者焦虑的一种有前途的策略。与算术相关的区域网络中活动的增加与HMA个人的性能改善相关。这些结果表明，增加算术区域的参与度是我们确定的HMA学生在使用重新评估来增强其数学成绩时的成绩提高的基础。总体而言，认知重新评估是提高数学表现和减少数学焦虑者焦虑的一种有前途的策略。