Abstract

The study examined the relationship between anxiety, inhibitory control (IC), and resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) in a critical age-range for social and emotional development (8–12-year-olds). The participants were assigned to 4 weeks of either an emotional IC training program, a neutral IC training program, or a waitlisted control, and were tested using cognitive, emotional, and EEG measures. The training was computerized and completed remotely. At baseline, IC accuracy scores were negatively related to both anxiety and depression levels (N = 42). Additionally, increased right lateral frontal alpha asymmetry was predictive of increased anxiety/depression scores. A series of multivariate analyses of covariance and post-hoc tests were conducted to compare effects in the participants that completed the full 16 sessions of training (N = 32). Overall the emotional and neutral training conditions showed similar improvements in IC accuracy, as well as reductions in anxiety compared to the waitlist condition. Minimal neurophysiological changes occurred from pre-to-post; however, lateral frontal asymmetry shifted leftward in the emotional training group. These findings highlight the potential of computerized IC training for mitigating negative emotional functioning in preadolescents. Future research is necessary to determine the long-term effects of IC training and whether longer training intervals facilitate persisting impacts.

摘要

该研究检查了社交和情绪发展的关键年龄范围（8-12 岁）中的焦虑、抑制性控制 (IC) 和静息状态脑电图 (EEG) 之间的关系。参与者被分配到 4 周的情绪 IC 训练计划、中性 IC 训练计划或候补对照，并使用认知、情绪和 EEG 测量进行测试。培训采用计算机化并远程完成。在基线时，IC 准确度得分与焦虑和抑郁水平呈负相关（N = 42)。此外，右侧额叶 α 不对称性的增加预示着焦虑/抑郁评分的增加。进行了一系列协方差和事后检验的多变量分析，以比较完成全部 16 次培训的参与者的效果（N = 32)。总体而言，与候补名单条件相比，情绪和中性训练条件在 IC 准确性方面显示出类似的改进，以及焦虑的减少。从前后发生最小的神经生理变化；然而，在情绪训练组中，外侧额叶不对称向左移动。这些发现突出了计算机化 IC 培训在减轻青春期前负面情绪功能方面的潜力。未来的研究对于确定 IC 培训的长期影响以及较长的培训间隔是否有助于持续影响是必要的。