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This study used event-related brain potentials to investigate whether math anxiety is related to abnormal error monitoring processing. To this end, fourteen high math-anxious (HMA) and fourteen low math-anxious (LMA) individuals were presented with a numerical and a classical Stroop task. Groups did not differ in trait anxiety. We found enhanced error-related negativity (ERN) in the HMA group when they committed an error in the numerical Stroop task, but not in the classical Stroop task. Groups did not differ in the correct-related negativity component (CRN), the error positivity component (Pe) or behavioral measures. The amplitude of the ERN was negatively related to participants’ math anxiety scores, showing a more negative amplitude as the score increased. The results were interpreted according to the motivational significance theory of the ERN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines whether the Single-Item Math Anxiety scale (SIMA), based on the item suggested by Ashcraft (2002), provides valid and reliable measures of mathematical anxiety. A large sample of university students ( n = 279) was administered the SIMA and the 25-item Abbreviated Math Anxiety Rating Scale (sMARS; Alexander and Martray, 1989) to evaluate the concordance between the measures obtained with the two tests; they were also administered other tests to provide validity evidences of SIMA measurements. The temporal stability of SIMA scores was also evaluated by obtaining the 7-week test–retest reliability. The findings demonstrated that SIMA scores showed validity evidences and excellent 7-week test–retest reliability. We advocate the use of SIMA as a quick and useful means of assessing math anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]