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In psychophysiology, an interesting question is how to estimate the reliability of event-related potentials collected by means of the Eriksen Flanker Task or similar tests. A special problem presents itself if the data represent neurological reactions that are associated with some responses (in case of the Flanker Task, responding incorrectly on a trial) but not others (like when providing a correct response), inherently resulting in unequal numbers of observations per subject. The general trend in reliability research here is to use generalizability theory and Bayesian estimation. We show that a new approach based on classical test theory and frequentist estimation can do the job as well and in a simpler way, and even provides additional insight to matters that were unsolved in the generalizability method approach. One of our contributions is the definition of a single, overall reliability coefficient for an entire group of subjects with unequal numbers of observations. Both methods have slightly different objectives. We argue in favor of the classical approach but without rejecting the generalizability approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced error monitoring, as indexed by increased amplitude of the error‐related negativity (ERN) event‐related potential (ERP) component, has been suggested to reflect a vulnerability neuro‐marker of anxiety disorders. Another error‐related ERP component is the error positivity (Pe), which reflects late‐stage error processing. The associations between heightened ERN and Pe amplitudes and anxiety levels in the nonclinical population have been inconsistent. In this preregistered study, we examined the association between anxiety, ERN, and Pe, using different analytical methods (mass‐univariate analyses, MUAs and conventional analyses), self‐reported anxiety scales (STAI and STICSA), and trial numbers (all correct trials and equal numbers of correct and error trials). In a sample of 82 healthy adults, both conventional and MUAs demonstrated a robust enhancement of the ERN and Pe to errors relative to the correct‐response ERPs. However, the mass‐univariate approach additionally unveiled a wider array of electrodes and a longer effect duration for this error enhancement. Across the analytic methods, the results showed a lack of consistent correlation between trait anxiety and error‐related ERPs. Findings were not modulated by trial numbers, analyses, or anxiety scales. The present results suggest a lack of enhancement of error monitoring by anxious traits in individuals with subclinical anxiety and those with clinical anxiety but without a clinical diagnosis. Importantly, the absence of such correlation questions the validity of the ERN as a neural marker for anxiety disorders. Future studies that investigate neuro‐markers of anxiety may explore alternative task designs and employ robust statistics to provide a more comprehensive understanding of anxiety vulnerability. Our research challenges the proposed use of the ERN as a biomarker to identify individuals at risk of developing anxiety disorders. We used robust statistics and controlled for several potential confounds, providing strong evidence against an association between ERN amplitude and trait anxiety levels in a nonclinical population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Error-related potentials (ErrPs) have attracted attention in part because of their practical potential for building brain-computer interface (BCI) paradigms. BCIs, facilitating direct communication between the brain and machines, hold great promise for brain-AI interaction. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of ErrPs is crucial to ensure reliable BCI outcomes. In this study, we investigated ErrPs in the context of the “guess what I am thinking” paradigm. 23 healthy participants were instructed to imagine an object from a predetermined set, while an algorithm randomly selected another object that was either the same as or different from the imagined object. We recorded and analyzed the participants’ EEG activity to capture their mental responses to the algorithm’s “predictions”. The study identified components distinguishing correct from incorrect responses. It discusses their nature and how they differ from ErrPs extensively studied in other BCI paradigms. We observed pronounced variations in the shape of ErrPs across different stimulus sets, underscoring the significant influence of visual stimulus appearance on ErrP peaks. These findings have implications for designing effective BCI systems, especially considering the less conventional BCI paradigm employed. They emphasize the necessity of accounting for stimulus factors in BCI development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metacognition refers to the ability to monitor and control one's cognitive processes, which plays an important role in decision‐making throughout the lifespan. It is still debated whether metacognitive abilities decline with age. Neuroimaging evidence suggests that metacognition is served by domain‐specific mechanisms. These domains may differentially decline with increasing age. The current investigates whether the error‐related negativity (ERN) and the error positivity (Pe) which reflect error detection and error awareness, respectively, differ across perceptual and memory domains in young and older adults. In total, 38 young adults and 37 older adults completed a classic Flanker Task (perceptual) and an adapted memory‐based version. No difference in ERN amplitude was found between young and older adults and across domains. Perceptual ERN peaked earlier than Memory ERN. Memory ΔERN was larger than Perceptual ΔERN. Pe was smaller in older adults and ΔPe was larger for perceptual than memory flanker. Memory Pe peaked earlier in young as compared to older adults. Multivariate analyses of whole scalp data supported cross‐domain differences. During the task, ERN decreased in young but not in older adults. Memory Pe decreased in young adults but increased in older adults while no significant change in perceptual Pe was found. The study's findings suggest that neural correlates of error monitoring differ across cognitive domains. Moreover, it was shown that error awareness declines in old age but its within‐task dynamics vary across cognitive domains. Possible mechanisms underlying metacognition impairments in aging are discussed. The present study employed a novel memory version of the Flanker task and demonstrated domain‐specific differences in error monitoring neurophysiology in young and older adults. Moreover, we found that Pe was smaller in older adults but its within‐task dynamics varied across cognitive domains. Our findings offer novel insights into neurophysiology of metacognition and have relevant implication for evaluating metacognitive impairments in aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution can promote oxidative stress by exposing the body to various elements and substances that generate free radicals, such as lead and vanadium. These free radicals can negatively impact the respiratory, cardiovascular, immune, and neurological systems of vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases. To prevent or reduce oxidative stress, it is recommended to consume a balanced diet rich in natural antioxidants. These antioxidants can be found in various foods, especially in fruits and vegetables with intense colors, seeds, and spices. In recent decades, the effectiveness of consuming natural antioxidants such as resveratrol (found in wine), coffee, curcumin, garlic, vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea has been demonstrated. These antioxidants have beneficial effects on the body, including the protection of cell membranes, regulation of gene expression associated with inflammation, prevention or reduction of endothelial damage, and the decrease or diminished severity of neurodegeneration, liver, and pulmonary disorders. Additionally, they stimulate the immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the discovery of event‐related potentials elicited by errors more than 30 years ago, a new avenue of research on performance monitoring, cognitive control, and decision making emerged. Since then, the field has developed and expanded fulminantly. After a brief overview on the EEG correlates of performance monitoring, this article reviews recent advancements based on single‐trial analyses using independent component analysis, multiple regression, and multivariate pattern classification. Given the close interconnection between performance monitoring and reinforcement learning, computational modeling and model‐based EEG analyses have made a particularly strong impact. The reviewed findings demonstrate that error‐ and feedback‐related EEG dynamics represent variables reflecting how performance‐monitoring signals are weighted and transformed into an adaptation signal that guides future decisions and actions. The model‐based single‐trial analysis approach goes far beyond conventional peak‐and‐trough analyses of event‐related potentials and enables testing mechanistic theories of performance monitoring, cognitive control, and decision making. Performance monitoring and subsequent adaptations are highly dynamic processes. Here, I review recent advances in single‐trial EEG dynamics analyses that enabled the rigorous testing of predictions based on current theories and mathematically formalized computational models of performance monitoring, cognitive control, and decision making. I show that performance monitoring signals reflecting the transformation of outcome variables to adaptation signals are multiplexed in the EEG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disorders marked by high levels of impulsivity and compulsivity have been linked to changes in performance monitoring, specifically the error‐related negativity (ERN). We investigated the relationship between performance monitoring and individual differences in impulsivity and compulsivity. A total of 142 participants were recruited into four groups, each with different combinations of impulsivity and compulsivity, and they performed a flanker task to assess error‐related brain activity. We defined error‐related brain activity as ERN amplitude and theta power. Single‐trial regression was employed to analyze the amplitude differences between incorrect and correct trials within the ERN time window. The findings revealed that impulsivity, compulsivity, and different measures of response processing exhibited distinct interactions, which were influenced by the configuration of impulsivity and compulsivity, but also depended on the measure of response processing. Specifically, high compulsivity predicted larger ERN amplitudes in individuals with low impulsivity, whereas high impulsivity had no significant effect on ERN amplitude in individuals with low compulsivity. Furthermore, when both impulsivity and compulsivity were high, no significant increase in ERN amplitude was observed; instead, there was a reduced difference between incorrect and correct trials. No significant differences were found for theta power. While the association between error‐related brain activity and transdiagnostic markers or psychopathology may be smaller than generally assumed, considering the interaction between different transdiagnostic markers and their facets can enhance our understanding of the complex associations that arise during the investigation of neural correlates of performance monitoring, specifically the ERN. Our findings emphasize the importance of investigating interactions between transdiagnostic markers like impulsivity and compulsivity: the error‐related negativity (ERN) was elevated for high compulsivity only when impulsivity was low, complementing previous research on the ERN in compulsivity. When both impulsivity and compulsivity were high, we observed no elevation in ERN amplitude but a reduced difference between ERN and correct‐response negativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Vascular anomalies caused by somatic (postzygotic) variants are clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases with overlapping or distinct entities. The genetic knowledge in this field is rapidly growing, and genetic testing is now part of the diagnostic workup alongside the clinical, radiological and histopathological data. Nonetheless, access to genetic testing is still limited, and there is significant heterogeneity across the approaches used by the diagnostic laboratories, with direct consequences on test sensitivity and accuracy. The clinical utility of genetic testing is expected to increase progressively with improved theragnostics, which will be based on information about the efficacy and safety of the emerging drugs and future molecules. The aim of this study was to make recommendations for optimising and guiding the diagnostic genetic testing for somatic variants in patients with vascular malformations. Results Physicians and lab specialists from 11 multidisciplinary European centres for vascular anomalies reviewed the genes identified to date as being involved in non-hereditary vascular malformations, evaluated gene–disease associations, and made recommendations about the technical aspects for identification of low-level mosaicism and variant interpretation. A core list of 24 genes were selected based on the current practices in the participating laboratories, the ISSVA classification and the literature. In total 45 gene–phenotype associations were evaluated: 16 were considered definitive, 16 strong, 3 moderate, 7 limited and 3 with no evidence. Conclusions This work provides a detailed evidence-based view of the gene–disease associations in the field of vascular malformations caused by somatic variants. Knowing both the gene–phenotype relationships and the strength of the associations greatly help laboratories in data interpretation and eventually in the clinical diagnosis. This study reflects the state of knowledge as of mid-2023 and will be regularly updated on the VASCERN-VASCA website (VASCERN-VASCA, https://vascern.eu/groupe/vascular-anomalies/ ).

Background: Vascular anomalies caused by somatic (postzygotic) variants are clinically and genetically heterogeneous diseases with overlapping or distinct entities. The genetic knowledge in this field is rapidly growing, and genetic testing is now part of the diagnostic workup alongside the clinical, radiological and histopathological data. Nonetheless, access to genetic testing is still limited, and there is significant heterogeneity across the approaches used by the diagnostic laboratories, with direct consequences on test sensitivity and accuracy. The clinical utility of genetic testing is expected to increase progressively with improved theragnostics, which will be based on information about the efficacy and safety of the emerging drugs and future molecules. The aim of this study was to make recommendations for optimising and guiding the diagnostic genetic testing for somatic variants in patients with vascular malformations. Results: Physicians and lab specialists from 11 multidisciplinary European centres for vascular anomalies reviewed the genes identified to date as being involved in non-hereditary vascular malformations, evaluated gene–disease associations, and made recommendations about the technical aspects for identification of low-level mosaicism and variant interpretation. A core list of 24 genes were selected based on the current practices in the participating laboratories, the ISSVA classification and the literature. In total 45 gene–phenotype associations were evaluated: 16 were considered definitive, 16 strong, 3 moderate, 7 limited and 3 with no evidence. Conclusions: This work provides a detailed evidence-based view of the gene–disease associations in the field of vascular malformations caused by somatic variants. Knowing both the gene–phenotype relationships and the strength of the associations greatly help laboratories in data interpretation and eventually in the clinical diagnosis. This study reflects the state of knowledge as of mid-2023 and will be regularly updated on the VASCERN-VASCA website (VASCERN-VASCA, https://vascern.eu/groupe/vascular-anomalies/). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is emblematic of the limitations of existing diagnostic categories. One potential solution, consistent with the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative, is to interrogate psychological mechanisms at the behavioral and physiological level together to try and identify meaningful subgroups within existing categories. Such approaches provide a way to revise diagnostic boundaries and clarify individual variation in mechanisms. Here, we illustrate this approach to help resolve heterogeneity in ADHD using a combination of behaviorally-rated temperament measures from the Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire; cognitive performance on three difference conditions of an emotional go/no-go task; and electroencephalogram (EEG)-measured variation in multiple stages of error processing, including the error-related negativity (ERN) and positivity (Pe). In a large (N = 342), well-characterized sample of adolescents with ADHD, latent profile analysis identified two ADHD temperament subgroups: 1) emotionally regulated and 2) emotionally dysregulated (with high negative affect). Cognitive and EEG assessment in a subset of 272 adolescents (nADHD = 151) found that the emotionally dysregulated group showed distinct patterns of change in early neural response to errors (ERN) across emotional task conditions as compared to emotionally-regulated ADHD adolescents and typically-developing controls. Both ADHD groups showed blunted later response to errors (Pe) that was stable across emotional task conditions. Overall, neural response patterns identified important differences in how trait and state emotion interact to affect cognitive processing. Results highlight important temperament variation within ADHD that helps clarify its relationship to the ERN, one of the most prominent putative neural biomarkers for psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored neural processing differences associated with aging across four cognitive functions. In addition to ERP analysis, we included task-related microstate analyses, which identified stable states of neural activity across the scalp over time, to explore whole-head neural activation differences. Younger and older adults (YA, OA) completed face perception (N170), word-pair judgment (N400), visual oddball (P3), and flanker (ERN) tasks. Age-related effects differed across tasks. Despite age-related delayed latencies, N170 ERP and microstate analyses indicated no age-related differences in amplitudes or microstates. However, age-related condition differences were found for P3 and N00 amplitudes and scalp topographies: smaller condition differences were found for in OAs as well as broader centroparietal scalp distributions. Age group comparisons for the ERN revealed similar focal frontocentral activation loci, but differential activation patterns. Our findings of differential age effects across tasks are most consistent with the STAC-r framework which proposes that age-related effects differ depending on the resources available and the kinds of processing and cognitive load required of various tasks. • ERP and microstate analyses showed that age effects differed across four tasks. • Microstates with ERPs help distinguish among current theories of neural aging. • Spatial distributions of neural processing phases differ by age across time and task. • Different age-related effects across tasks were most consistent with STAC-r. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Error-related potentials (ErrPs) have attracted attention in part because of their practical potential for building brain-computer interface (BCI) paradigms. BCIs, facilitating direct communication between the brain and machines, hold great promise for brain-AI interaction. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of ErrPs is crucial to ensure reliable BCI outcomes. In this study, we investigated ErrPs in the context of the “guess what I am thinking” paradigm. 23 healthy participants were instructed to imagine an object from a predetermined set, while an algorithm randomly selected another object that was either the same as or different from the imagined object. We recorded and analyzed the participants’ EEG activity to capture their mental responses to the algorithm’s “predictions”. The study identified components distinguishing correct from incorrect responses. It discusses their nature and how they differ from ErrPs extensively studied in other BCI paradigms. We observed pronounced variations in the shape of ErrPs across different stimulus sets, underscoring the significant influence of visual stimulus appearance on ErrP peaks. These findings have implications for designing effective BCI systems, especially considering the less conventional BCI paradigm employed. They emphasize the necessity of accounting for stimulus factors in BCI development.

BACKGROUND: Performance monitoring entails rapid error detection to maintain task performance. Impaired performance monitoring is a candidate pathophysiological process in psychotic disorders, which may explain the broader deficit in executive function and its known associations with negative symptoms and poor functioning. The current study models cross-sectional pathways bridging neurophysiological measures of performance monitoring with executive function, symptoms, and functioning. METHODS: Data were from the 20-year assessment of the Suffolk County Mental Health Project. Individuals with psychotic disorders (N = 181) were originally recruited from inpatient psychiatric facilities. Data were also collected from a geographically and demographically matched group with no psychosis history (N = 242). Neural measures were the error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe). Structural equation modeling tested mediation pathways. RESULTS: Blunted ERN and Pe in the clinical cohort related to impaired executive function (r = 0.26-0.35), negative symptom severity (r = 0.17-0.25), and poor real-world functioning (r = 0.17-0.19). Associations with executive function were consistent across groups. Multiple potential pathways were identified in the clinical cohort: reduced ERN to inexpressivity was mediated by executive function (β = 0.10); reduced Pe to global functioning was mediated by executive function and avolition (β = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: This supports a transdiagnostic model of psychotic disorders by which poor performance monitoring contributes to impaired executive function, which contributes to negative symptoms and poor real-world functioning. If supported by future longitudinal research, these pathways could inform the development of targeted interventions to address cognitive and functional deficits that are central to psychotic disorders.

Abstract Background The development of e-health technologies for teleconsultation and exchange of knowledge is one of the core purposes of European Reference Networks (ERNs), including the ERN EURO-NMD for rare neuromuscular diseases. Within ERNs, the Clinical Patient Management System (CPMS) is a web-based platform that seeks to boost active collaboration within and across the network, implementing data sharing. Through CPMS, it is possible to both discuss patient cases and to make patients’ data available for registries and databases in a secure way. In this view, CPMS may be considered a sort of a temporary storage for patients’ data and an effective tool for data sharing; it facilitates specialists’ consultation since rare diseases (RDs) require multidisciplinary skills, specific, and outstanding clinical experience. Following European Union (EU) recommendation, and to promote the use of CPMS platform among EURO-NMD members, a twelve-month pilot project was set up to train the 15 Italian Health Care Providers (HCPs). In this paper, we report the structure, methods, and results of the teaching course, showing that tailored, ERN-oriented, training can significantly enhance the profitable use of the CPMS. Results Throughout the training course, 45 professionals learned how to use the many features of the CPMS, eventually opening 98 panels of discussion—amounting to 82% of the total panels included in the EURO-NMD. Since clinical, genetic, diagnostic, and therapeutic data of patients can be securely stored within the platform, we also highlight the importance of this platform as an effective tool to discuss and share clinical cases, in order to ease both case solving and data storing. Conclusions In this paper, we discuss how similar course could help implementing the use of the platform, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of e-health for ERNs. The expected result is the creation of a “map” of neuromuscular patients across Europe that might be improved by a wider use of CPMS.

The organization of the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) model provides unique opportunities to evaluate whether neural risk measures operate as indicators of broader latent liabilities (e.g., externalizing proneness) or narrower expressions (e.g., antisociality and alcohol abuse). Following this approach, the current study recruited a sample of 182 participants (54% female) who completed measures of externalizing psychopathology (also internalizing) and associated traits. Participants also completed three tasks (Flanker-No Threat, Flanker-Threat, and Go/No-Go tasks) with event-related potential (ERP) measurement. Three variants of two research domain criteria (RDoC)-based neurophysiological indicators—P3 and error-related negativity (ERN)—were extracted from these tasks and used to model two latent ERP factors. Scores on these two ERP factors independently predicted externalizing factor scores when accounting for their covariance with sex—suggesting distinct neural processes contributing to the broad externalizing factor. No predictive relation with the broad internalizing factor was found for either ERP factor. Analyses at the finer-grained level revealed no unique predictive relations of either ERP factor with any specific externalizing symptom variable when accounting for the broad externalizing factor, indicating that ERN and P3 index general liability for problems in this spectrum. Overall, this study provides new insights about neural processes in externalizing psychopathology at broader and narrower levels of the HiTOP hierarchy. General Scientific Summary: The Hierarchical Taxonomy Model of Psychopathology argues that some etiological factors might operate at broader levels of the psychopathological spectrum, conferring general risk for clinical problems. Our results show that error-related negativity (ERN) and P3 responses are indicators of distinct neural processes and that both account for externalizing proneness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to monitor performance during a goal‐directed behavior differs among children and adults in ways that can be measured with several tasks and techniques. As well, recent work has shown that individual differences in error monitoring moderate temperamental risk for anxiety and that this moderation changes with age. We investigated age differences in neural responses linked to performance monitoring using a multimodal approach. The approach combined functional MRI and source localization of event‐related potentials (ERPs) in 12‐year‐old, 15‐year‐old, and adult participants. Neural generators of two components related to performance and error monitoring, the N2 and ERN, lay within specific areas of fMRI clusters. Whereas correlates of the N2 component appeared similar across age groups, age‐related differences manifested in the location of the generators of the ERN component. The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) was the predominant source location for the 12‐year‐old group; this area manifested posteriorly for the 15‐year‐old and adult groups. A fMRI‐based ROI analysis confirmed this pattern of activity. These results suggest that changes in the underlying neural mechanisms are related to developmental changes in performance monitoring. Our research shows that developmental differences occur in neural responses during performance monitoring, with more posterior brain areas showing activation in adults and anterior regions in 12‐ and 15‐year‐old subjects. The fMRI cluster of results showed large activation in the ACC across ages. Source localization of ERP responses identified the ACC as the generator of the N2 ERP in all age groups, whereas generators of the ERN component revealed that the ACC is active during error monitoring in adolescence, whereas more posterior areas (PCC) are active in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Little is known about cognitive control in adults with high-functioning forms of autism spectrum disorder because previous research focused on children and adolescents. Cognitive control is crucial to monitor and readjust behavior after errors to select contextually appropriate reactions. The congruency effect and conflict adaptation are measures of cognitive control. Post-error slowing, error-related negativity and error positivity provide insight into behavioral and electrophysiological correlates of error processing. In children and adolescent with autism spectrum disorder deficits in cognitive control and error processing have been shown by changes in post-error slowing, error-related negativity and error positivity in the flanker task. Methods: We performed a modified Eriksen flanker task in 17 adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder and 17 healthy controls. As behavioral measures of cognitive control and error processing, we included reaction times and error rates to calculate congruency effects, conflict adaptation, and post-error slowing. Event-related potentials namely error-related negativity and error positivity were measured to assess error-related brain activity. Results: Both groups of participants showed the expected congruency effects demonstrated by faster and more accurate responses in congruent compared to incongruent trials. Healthy controls exhibited conflict adaptation as they obtained performance benefits after incongruent trials whereas patients with autism spectrum disorder did not. The expected slowing in reaction times after errors was observed in both groups of participants. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder demonstrated enhanced electrophysiological error-processing compared to healthy controls indicated by increased error-related negativity and error positivity difference amplitudes. Discussion: Our findings show that adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder do not show the expected upregulation of cognitive control in response to conflicts. This finding implies that previous experiences may have a reduced influence on current behavior in these patients which possibly contributes to less flexible behavior. Nevertheless, we observed intact behavioral reactions after errors indicating that adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder can flexibly adjust behavior in response to changed environmental demands when necessary. The enhancement of electrophysiological error-processing indicates that adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder demonstrate an extraordinary reactivity toward errors reflecting increased performance monitoring in this subpopulation of autism spectrum disorder patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Errors elicit a negative, mediofrontal, event-related potential (ERP), for both own errors (error-related negativity; ERN) and observed errors (here referred to as observer mediofrontal negativity; oMN). It is unclear, however, if the action-monitoring system codes action valence as an all-or-nothing phenomenon or if the system differentiates between errors of different severity. We investigated this question by recording electroencephalography (EEG) data of pianists playing themselves (Experiment 1) or watching others playing (Experiment 2). Piano pieces designed to elicit large errors were used. While active participants' ERN amplitudes differed between small and large errors, observers' oMN amplitudes did not. The different pattern in the two groups of participants was confirmed in an exploratory analysis comparing ERN and oMN directly. We suspect that both prediction and action mismatches can be coded in action monitoring systems, depending on the task, and a need-to-adapt signal is sent whenever mismatches happen to indicate the magnitude of the needed adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The development of e-health technologies for teleconsultation and exchange of knowledge is one of the core purposes of European Reference Networks (ERNs), including the ERN EURO-NMD for rare neuromuscular diseases. Within ERNs, the Clinical Patient Management System (CPMS) is a web-based platform that seeks to boost active collaboration within and across the network, implementing data sharing. Through CPMS, it is possible to both discuss patient cases and to make patients' data available for registries and databases in a secure way. In this view, CPMS may be considered a sort of a temporary storage for patients' data and an effective tool for data sharing; it facilitates specialists' consultation since rare diseases (RDs) require multidisciplinary skills, specific, and outstanding clinical experience. Following European Union (EU) recommendation, and to promote the use of CPMS platform among EURO-NMD members, a twelve-month pilot project was set up to train the 15 Italian Health Care Providers (HCPs). In this paper, we report the structure, methods, and results of the teaching course, showing that tailored, ERN-oriented, training can significantly enhance the profitable use of the CPMS. Results: Throughout the training course, 45 professionals learned how to use the many features of the CPMS, eventually opening 98 panels of discussion—amounting to 82% of the total panels included in the EURO-NMD. Since clinical, genetic, diagnostic, and therapeutic data of patients can be securely stored within the platform, we also highlight the importance of this platform as an effective tool to discuss and share clinical cases, in order to ease both case solving and data storing. Conclusions: In this paper, we discuss how similar course could help implementing the use of the platform, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of e-health for ERNs. The expected result is the creation of a "map" of neuromuscular patients across Europe that might be improved by a wider use of CPMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mechanistic target of error sensitivity (error-related negativity [ERN]) is identified. • Impact of a computerized intervention on error sensitivity is examined. • Convergent validity between parent and child reports and error-related brain activity. • Error sensitivity relates to child anxiety. • The intervention decreases error sensitivity. • The intervention may decrease the ERN among children with a large ERN. In the current study, we utilize an experimental medicine approach to examine the extent to which a single-session, computerized intervention impacts a transdiagnostic neural marker of risk (i.e., the error-related negativity [ERN]) in 70 children between the ages of 6 and 9 years. The ERN is a deflection in the event-related potential occurring after an individual makes a mistake on a lab-based task and has been shown to be transdiagnostically associated with a variety of anxiety disorders (e.g., social anxiety, generalized anxiety), obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depressive disorders in over 60 studies to date. Building on these findings, work has been done to link an increased ERN to negative reactions to, and avoidance of, making mistakes (i.e., error sensitivity). In the current study, we capitalize on this previous work by examining the extent to which a single-session, computerized intervention may engage the target of "error sensitivity" (measured by the ERN, as well as self-report of error sensitivity). We examine the convergence of multiple measures of the construct of "error sensitivity" (i.e., child self-report, parent report on child, and child electroencephalogram [EEG]). We also examine relationships between these three measures of "error sensitivity" and child anxiety symptoms. Overall, results suggested that treatment condition predicted changes in self-reported error sensitivity but not changes in ERN. Based on the lack of previous work in this area, we view this study as a novel, preliminary, first step toward using an experimental medicine approach to examine our ability to engage the target of the ERN (i.e., error sensitivity) early in development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socio-emotional interactions are integral for regulating emotions and buffering psychological distress. Social neuroscience perspectives on aging suggest that empathetic interpersonal interactions are supported by the activation of brain regions involved in regulating negative affect. The current study tested whether resting state functional connectivity of a network of brain regions activated during cognitive emotion regulation, i.e., emotion regulation network (ERN), statistically mediates the frequency of social contact with friends or family on psychological distress. Here, a 10-min resting-state functional MRI scan was collected along with self-reported anxiety/depressive, somatic, and thought problems and social networking from 90 community-dwelling older adults (aged 65–85 years). The frequency of social interactions with family, but not friends and neighbors, was associated with lower psychological distress. The magnitude of this effect was reduced by 33.34% to non-significant upon adding resting state ERN connectivity as a mediator. Follow-up whole-brain graph network analyses revealed that efficiency and centrality of the left inferior frontal gyrus and the right middle temporal gyrus relate to greater family interactions and lower distress. These hubs may help to buffer psychological problems in older adults through interactions involving empathetic and cognitive emotion regulation with close family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on boredom suggest it function as animportant self-regulatory signal, indicating that the currentstate of the environment carries opportunity-costs andtherefore driving the need to explore alternative activities. Traitboredom proneness is associated with negative consequencesincluding increased risk-taking and impulsivity. Thesefindings often rely on self-reports and not much is known aboutthe role of state and trait boredom in controlled laboratorytasks, or their neural correlates. Sixty-two participantscompleted the Balloon Analogue Risk Task and a go/no-gotask while electrical brain activity was recorded using EEG.Results showed that state boredom leads to impulsivity andpoor performance monitoring, as evident by behavioral,subjective and ERP metrics. Trait boredom was associatedwith increased risk-taking, and modulated the correlationbetween errors and state boredom: high boredom pronenessincreased the sensitivity of trait boredom to errors. Overall,these findings emphasize the involvement of executivefunctions in the interaction between state and trait boredom.

Abstract Background Against the backdrop of the European Directive on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare, 24 European Reference Networks (ERNs) were launched in 2017. ERNs are networks of specialised hospitals working together to support patients with rare and/or complex diseases. ERN CRANIO is the ERN for craniofacial anomalies and ear, nose and throat disorders. The aim of this study was to explore ERN CRANIO’s patient coverage of craniosynostosis. Methods ERN CRANIO members and applicants were asked to retrospectively report the number of ‘new craniosynostosis patients’ (isolated and syndromic) seen in 2017. The number of live births per country in 2017 was retrieved from EUROSTAT, the EU’s statistical office. The number of new patients reported per country and the number of live births were used to generate country-specific prevalence figures per 10,000 live births. These figures were compared to expected prevalence ranges for craniosynostosis, and syndromic craniosynostosis specifically, defined by recent European studies. The percentage of syndromic craniosynostosis cases per country was also compared to the expected percentage range. Results Based on previous studies, the expected prevalence ranges for craniosynostosis and syndromic craniosynostosis specifically were respectively defined as 4.4–7.2 and 0.9–1.6 patients/10,000 live births. For craniosynostosis (‘total’; isolated + syndromic), 'new patient' data from the UK and Finland generated prevalence figures within the expected range, and those in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Germany are lower than expected. However, when including applicant data, the prevalence figures for France, Spain and Italy become in range. Data from the Netherlands and Sweden generated higher prevalence figures than expected. For France, Finland, Italy and Sweden, there is inconsistency between patient coverage of ‘total’ and syndromic patients. For France, Germany, Finland and Italy, the percentage of syndromic craniosynostosis was lower than the expected range. Conclusion ERN CRANIO’s coverage of craniosynostosis varies across Europe. Results may be explained by data collection methods, genetic testing policies and/or national healthcare systems. With centre caseload a driving force for quality, additional ERN membership calls may not necessarily ensure sufficient patient coverage for countries with decentralised healthcare systems. Liaison with national health ministries should be encouraged to optimise patient coverage.

Error-related electroencephalographic potentials have been used for decades to develop theoretical models of response monitoring processes, study altered cognitive functioning in clinical populations, and more recently, to improve the performance of brain-computer interfaces. However, the vast majority of this research relies on discrete behavioral responses that confound error detection, response cancelation, error correction, and post-error cognitive and affective processes. By contrast, the present study demonstrates a novel, complementary method for isolating the functional correlates of error-related electroencephalographic responses using single-trial kinematic analyses of cursor trajectories and a stepwise time-locking analysis. The results reveal that the latency of the ERN, Pe, and medial-frontal theta oscillations are all strongly positively correlated with the latency at which an initiated error response is canceled, as indicated by the peak deceleration of the initiated movement prior to a corrective response. Results are discussed with respect to current theoretical models of error-related brain potentials and potential relevance to clinical applications.

Recent research has focused on identifying neural markers associated with risk for anxiety, including the error-related negativity (ERN). An elevated ERN amplitude has been observed in anxious individuals from middle childhood onward and has been shown to predict risk for future increases in anxiety development. The ERN is sensitive to environmental influences during development, including interpersonal stressors. Of note, one particular type of interpersonal stressor, relational victimization, has been related to increases in anxiety in adolescents. We tested whether relational victimization predicts increases in the ERN and social anxiety symptoms across two years in a sample of 152 child and adolescent females (ages 8 – 15). Results indicated that children and adolescents’ baseline ERN was positively related to the ERN two years later. Furthermore, greater relational victimization at baseline predicted greater increases in the ERN two years later, controlling for baseline ERN. Moreover, relational victimization at baseline predicted increases in social anxiety, and this relationship was mediated by increases in the ERN. These results suggest that relational victimization impacts the developmental trajectory of the neural response to errors and thereby impacts increases in social anxiety among children and adolescents.

Preschool children show neural responses and make behavioral adjustments immediately following an error. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding how neural responses to error predict subsequent behavioral adjustments during childhood. The aim of our study was to explore the neural dynamics of error processing and associated behavioral adjustments in preschool children from unsatisfied basic needs (UBN) homes. Using EEG recordings during a go/no-go task, we examined within-subject associations between the error-related negativity (ERN), frontal theta power, post-error slowing, and post-error accuracy. Post-error accuracy increased linearly with post-error slowing, and there was no association between the neural activity of error processing and post-error accuracy. However, during successful error recovery, the frontal theta power, but not the ERN amplitude, was associated positively with post-error slowing. These findings indicated that preschool children from UBN homes adjusted their behavior following an error in an adaptive form and that the error-related theta activity may be associated with the adaptive forms of post-error behavior. Furthermore, our data support the adaptive theory of post-error slowing and point to some degree of separation between the neural mechanisms represented by the ERN and theta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased error‐related negativity (ERN), a measure of error monitoring, has been suggested as a biomarker of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Additional insight into error monitoring is possible using time‐frequency decomposition of electroencephalographic (EEG) data, as it allows disentangling the brain's parallel processing of information. Greater error‐related theta is thought to reflect an error detection signal, while delta activity may reflect more elaborative post‐detection processes (i.e., strategic adjustments). Recent investigations show that decreased error‐related alpha may index attentional engagement following errors; additionally, increases and decreases in error‐related beta could reflect motor inhibition and motor preparation, respectively. However, time‐frequency dynamics of error monitoring in OCD are largely unknown. The present study examined time‐frequency theta, delta, alpha and beta power in early adolescents with OCD using a data‐driven, cluster‐based approach. The aim was to explore electrocortical measures of error monitoring in early adolescents with (n = 27, 15 females) and without OCD (n = 27, 14 females) during an arrowhead version of the flanker task while EEG activity was recorded. Results indicated that the OCD group was characterized by increased ERN and error‐related theta, as well as reduced error‐related beta power decrease (i.e., greater power) compared to participants without OCD. Greater error‐related beta explained variance in OCD over and above the ERN and error‐related theta. By examining separate time‐frequency measures, the present study provides novel insights into the dynamics of error monitoring, suggesting that pediatric OCD may be characterized by enhanced error monitoring (i.e., greater theta power) and post‐error inhibition (i.e., reduced beta power decrease). The present study provided novel insights into the dynamics of error monitoring by capitalizing on both event‐related potentials and time‐frequency measures. The results suggest that pediatric OCD may be characterized by enhanced error monitoring (i.e., greater ERN and theta power) and post‐error inhibition, and reduced motor preparation (i.e., reduced beta power decrease). Overall, these results are promising as examining error‐related time‐frequency measures could enhance clinical utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head fake is a common deceptive action in basketball that can effectively disrupt opponents and induce errors. This study investigated post-error behavioral adjustment and neural changes associated with head-fake action and related action cues across different response‒stimulus intervals (RSIs). Participants were asked to respond to the central target player's pass direction, ignoring the head direction of the target person and the flankers. The results revealed that the participants exhibited longer reaction times in the flanker (or head) incongruent condition compared to the flanker (or head) congruent condition. The results also revealed that the participants slowed their responses following an error in response to an action cue, indicating the presence of the post-error slowing (PES) effect. Moreover, the PES effect was greater at short RSI than at long RSI. The results of Event Related Potentials (ERPs) revealed that the participants exhibited a greater amplitude of error-related negativity (ERN) but a smaller amplitude of error positivity (Pe) following an error at a short RSI than at a long RSI. Collectively, these findings suggest that people can exhibit post-error slowing following an error response to action cues. Moreover, the RSI may affect the speed of response after an error and early error processing and erroneous evidence accumulation, as a processing bottleneck exists for a short time after an error. These findings offer insights into sports strategies and behavior modification. • Using head-fake action cues instead of arrows to induce errors in the flanker task. • Individuals react more slowly and less accurately after errors (the PES effect). • The PES effect was greater at short RSIs than at long RSIs. • ERN amplitude was higher and Pe amplitude lower at short RSIs than at long RSIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAlthough individuals with, or at risk for, psychotic disorders often show difficulties with performance monitoring and feedback processing, findings from studies using event-related potentials (ERPs) to index these processes are not consistent. This meta-analytic review focused on studies of two different indexes of performance monitoring, the early error-related negativity (ERN; n = 25) and the later error positivity (Pe; n = 17), and one index of feedback processing, the feedback negativity (FN; n = 6).MethodsWe evaluated whether individuals (1) with psychotic disorders, or (2) at heightened risk for these disorders differ from healthy controls in available studies of the ERN, Pe, and FN.ResultsThere was a significant, large ERN reduction in those with psychosis (g = -0.96) compared to controls, and a significant, moderate ERN reduction in those at-risk (g = -0.48). In contrast, there were uniformly non-significant, small between-group differences for Pe and FN (gs ≤ |0.16|).ConclusionsThe results reveal a differential pattern of impairment in psychosis. Early performance monitoring (ERN) impairments are substantial among those with psychotic disorders in general and may be a useful vulnerability indicator for these disorders. However, later performance monitoring (Pe) and basic feedback processing (FN) appear to be relatively spared in psychosis.

Objectives : Mindfulness meditation is associated with better attention function. Performance monitoring and error-processing are important aspects of attention. We investigated whether experienced meditators showed different neural activity related to performance monitoring and error-processing. Previous research has produced inconsistent results. This study used more rigorous analyses and a larger sample to resolve the inconsistencies. Method: We used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe) following correct and incorrect responses to a Go/Nogo task from 27 experienced meditators and 27 non-meditators. Results: No differences were found in the ERN (all p > 0.05). Meditators showed larger global field potentials (GFP) in the Pe after correct responses and errors, indicating stronger neural responses (p = 0.019, FDR-p = 0.152, np2 = 0.095, BFincl = 2.691). This effect did not pass multiple comparison controls. However, single-electrode analysis of the Pe did pass multiple comparison controls (p = 0.002, FDR-p = 0.016, np2 = 0.133, BFincl = 220.659). Meditators also showed a significantly larger Pe GFP for errors, which would have passed multiple comparison controls, but was not a primary analysis (p = 0.003, np2 = 0.149, BF10 = 9.999). Conclusions: Meditation may strengthen neural responses related to performance monitoring. However, these strengthened neural responses were not specific to error monitoring (although the error-related Pe may be more sensitive to group differences than the correct response Pe). These conclusions remain tentative, because the single-electrode analysis passed multiple comparison controls, but the analysis including all electrodes did not. Preregistration: This study was not preregistered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Research into the effects of mindfulness meditation indicates improvements in mental health and cognitive function. Mechanisms underpinning these improvements include increased attentional function and decreased emotional reactivity. These functions are engaged when an individual reacts to an error. As such, researchers have examined differences in neural activity between mindful and non-mindful groups during tasks that elicit error responses using electroencephalography (EEG). Event-related potentials associated with error-processing are primarily the error-related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe), which occur ~ 0–150 ms and ~ 200–400 ms following an error. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of mindfulness on ERN and Pe amplitudes. Methods: Our literature search revealed 16 studies that examined the ERN (total N = 887, 469 mindfulness, 418 controls) and 12 studies that examined the Pe (total N = 747, 395 mindfulness, 352 controls). Results: Results showed a weak association between mindfulness and more negative ERN amplitudes at electrode FCz, with inconsequential Bayesian evidence, after the analysis was restricted to studies including healthy participants only (Q(1) = 4.725, p = 0.030, BF10 = 1.714). The results also provided a preliminary suggestion that mindfulness reduced the Pe amplitude at electrode Pz (Q(2) = 8.023, p = 0.018), when studying individuals that had weeks to years of mindfulness practice (but not less than weeks of mindfulness practice). Conclusions: The results do not provide good evidence that mindfulness meditation affects EEG measures of error processing. However, our findings are limited by heterogeneity and potential biases, and as such should be interpreted with caution. Protocol and Registration: Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO CRD42021249775. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Review: This review describes approaches to research on anxiety that attempt to link neural correlates to treatment response and novel therapies. The review emphasizes pediatric anxiety disorders since most anxiety disorders begin before adulthood. Recent Findings: Recent literature illustrates how current treatments for anxiety manifest diverse relations with a range of neural markers. While some studies demonstrate post-treatment normalization of markers in anxious individuals, others find persistence of group differences. For other markers, which show no pretreatment association with anxiety, the markers nevertheless distinguish treatment-responders from non-responders. Heightened error related negativity represents the risk marker discussed in the most depth; however, limitations in measures related to error responding necessitate multimodal and big-data approaches. Summary: Single risk markers show limits as correlates of treatment response. Large-scale, multimodal data analyzed with predictive models may illuminate additional risk markers related to anxiety disorder treatment outcomes. Such work may identify novel targets and eventually guide improvements in treatment response/outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The error‐related negativity (ERN) is sensitive to individual differences relating to anxiety and is modulated by manipulations that increase the threat‐value of committing errors. In adults, the ERN magnitude is enhanced when errors are followed by punishment, especially among anxious individuals. Punitive parenting is related to an elevated ERN in children; however, the effects of task‐based punishment on the ERN in children have yet to be understood. Furthermore, there is a need to assess developmental periods wherein the ERN might be especially prone to modulation by punishment. We examined the impact of punishment on the ERN in a sample of children and assessed whether the impact of punishment on the ERN was moderated by age and anxiety. Punishment potentiated the ERN in children, especially among higher trait‐anxious individuals; the punishment potentiation of the ERN was also associated with older age. The interaction between child age and anxiety symptoms did not significantly predict the punishment potentiation of the ERN; however, both child age and anxiety symptoms uniquely predicted the punishment potentiation of the ∆ERN. Anxious children may be especially prone to punishment‐related alterations in error monitoring, and the impact of punishment on the ERN may become more pronounced as children age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Against the backdrop of the European Directive on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare, 24 European Reference Networks (ERNs) were launched in 2017. ERNs are networks of specialised hospitals working together to support patients with rare and/or complex diseases. ERN CRANIO is the ERN for craniofacial anomalies and ear, nose and throat disorders. The aim of this study was to explore ERN CRANIO's patient coverage of craniosynostosis.Methods: ERN CRANIO members and applicants were asked to retrospectively report the number of 'new craniosynostosis patients' (isolated and syndromic) seen in 2017. The number of live births per country in 2017 was retrieved from EUROSTAT, the EU's statistical office. The number of new patients reported per country and the number of live births were used to generate country-specific prevalence figures per 10,000 live births. These figures were compared to expected prevalence ranges for craniosynostosis, and syndromic craniosynostosis specifically, defined by recent European studies. The percentage of syndromic craniosynostosis cases per country was also compared to the expected percentage range.Results: Based on previous studies, the expected prevalence ranges for craniosynostosis and syndromic craniosynostosis specifically were respectively defined as 4.4-7.2 and 0.9-1.6 patients/10,000 live births. For craniosynostosis ('total'; isolated + syndromic), 'new patient' data from the UK and Finland generated prevalence figures within the expected range, and those in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Germany are lower than expected. However, when including applicant data, the prevalence figures for France, Spain and Italy become in range. Data from the Netherlands and Sweden generated higher prevalence figures than expected. For France, Finland, Italy and Sweden, there is inconsistency between patient coverage of 'total' and syndromic patients. For France, Germany, Finland and Italy, the percentage of syndromic craniosynostosis was lower than the expected range.Conclusion: ERN CRANIO's coverage of craniosynostosis varies across Europe. Results may be explained by data collection methods, genetic testing policies and/or national healthcare systems. With centre caseload a driving force for quality, additional ERN membership calls may not necessarily ensure sufficient patient coverage for countries with decentralised healthcare systems. Liaison with national health ministries should be encouraged to optimise patient coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhanced amplitudes of the error-related negativity (ERN) have been suggested to be a transdiagnostic neural risk marker for internalizing psychopathology. Previous studies propose worry to be an underlying mechanism driving the association between enhanced ERN and anxiety. The present preregistered study focused on disentangling possible effects of trait and state worry on the ERN by utilizing a cross sectional observational and a longitudinal randomized controlled experimental design. To this end, we examined the ERN of n = 90 students during a flanker task (T0), which were then randomly assigned to one of three groups (worry induction, worry reduction, passive control group). Following the intervention, participants performed another flanker task (T1) to determine potential alterations of their ERN. Manipulation checks revealed that compared to the control group, state worry increased in the induction but also in the reduction group. ERN amplitudes did not vary as a function of state worry. An association of trait worry with larger ERN amplitudes was only observed in females. Furthermore, we found larger ERN amplitudes in participants with a current or lifetime diagnosis of internalizing disorders. In summary, our findings suggest that the ERN seems to be insensitive to variations in state worry, but that an elevated ERN is associated with the trait-like tendency to worry and internalizing psychopathology, which is consistent with the notion that the ERN likely represents a trait-like neural risk associated with anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choice impulsivity can be measured by offering a sequence of various binary choices between smaller, immediately available rewards and larger, later available rewards. An individual's delay discount (DD) rate reflects the aggregate decision-making tendency. Given the broad spectrum of disorders associated with a high DD rate, this may be an important transdiagnostic factor. This study aimed to establish whether post-decisional neurophysiological processes reflecting the presence of error monitoring are involved in delay discounting. A large sample (N = 97) was investigated, including 46 females and 51 males. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded during the classic monetary choice questionnaire (MCQ-27). Error-related event-related potentials (ERPs) and event-related oscillations (EROs) following responses were analyzed. A modest relationship between error positivity (Pe) and DD rate was seen centro-parietal, with higher amplitude for low DD individuals after choosing immediate rewards. A robust association was found between DD rate and theta oscillation power increases. This was most prominent in low DD individuals after making an immediate reward choice. Theta power was positively associated with decision (reaction) time, suggesting an association between pre- and post-decisional conflict. No evidence was found for an error-related negativity (ERN) and delta oscillations. This study provides clear evidence for conflict monitoring as a post-decision process in delay discounting. Findings suggest that diminished theta band power bursts and lower Pe amplitude, observed after choosing an immediate reward, reflect the neurophysiological consequence and possibly the cause of steep delay discounting. High DD was characterized by prefrontal hypoactivation and appears to result from affective decision-making. • Steep delay discounting is known to be associated with multiple disorders (e.g., substance use disorder and ADHD). • The rationale for this study is that the role of post-decisional processing in delay discounting is not understood. • Results show that low delay discounting was robustly associated with theta band power increases after immediate reward choices. • Conversely, steep delay discounting was characterized by theta bursts after delayed reward choices, with prefrontal hypoactivation. • Conflict monitoring is active after reward decisions and differences in activation may cause steep delay discounting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined how individual differences in error-related brain activity might moderate the association between high trait neuroticism and internalizing symptoms. Data were collected from a sample of high-achieving young adults (N = 188) as part of a larger study on risk versus resiliency for psychopathology. Participants completed two behavioral tasks to elicit the error-related negativity (ERN): an arrow Flanker task and a Go/No-Go task. Analyses were constrained to two internalizing symptom dimensions of checking behavior and irritability. Contrary to expectations, ERN amplitude was not related to symptom severity at the bivariate level. However, ERN amplitude moderated the association between trait neuroticism and symptoms of ill temper, such that the neuroticism-irritability association was strongest among individuals with a blunted ERN. In addition, this finding was relatively consistent across tasks and across two complementary methods of scoring the ERN, suggesting an effect of ERN variance that is shared between tasks and that is relatively robust regarding processing differences. In all, the current study represents the first attempt to investigate how the ERN interacts with trait neuroticism to predict transdiagnostic symptom dimensions in adulthood. • The error-related negativity (ERN) shapes the relationship between trait neuroticism and symptoms of irritability. • This was consistent across tasks, suggesting an effect of error-monitoring generally rather than a task-specific effect. • The current study extends past findings to a sample of high-achieving young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The error-related negativity (ERN) is an event-related potential that is observed after the commission of an error and is hypothesized to index threat sensitivity. The ERN is associated with multiple psychiatric disorders, but it is unclear if similar results are due to higher-order dimensions of psychopathology. When errors are punished, the ERN is further enhanced, which might better isolate threat sensitivity. However, few studies have examined whether psychopathology is associated with punishment enhancement of the ERN. In a clinical sample of 170 adults, the present study examined the association between pathological personality domains and predictable vs. unpredictable punishment-enhanced ERN. Results indicated that the ERN was enhanced when errors were punished compared to not punished. Greater negative emotionality was associated with a greater predictable punishment-enhanced ERN, while greater disinhibition was associated with smaller predictable punishment-enhanced ERN. The study suggests that higher-order pathological personality domains demonstrate discriminate relationships with punishment-enhanced error-related brain activity. • Error-related brain activity is increased when errors are punished. • Negative emotionality is linked to greater brain activity for errors with predictable punishment. • Disinhibition is linked to reduced brain activity for errors with predictable punishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Underdeveloped cognitive control (CC)—the capacity to flexibly adjust to changing environments—may predispose some children to early onset anxiety disorders and represents a promising intervention target. The current study established and pilot‐tested "Camp Kidpower"—a novel group‐based, interactive CC training intervention—and assessed its impacts on behavioral and neurophysiological indices of CC among preschool children with elevated anxiety symptoms. Methods: Forty‐four anxious children (4–6 years) were enrolled in Camp Kidpower, delivered in four sessions over 10 days. Before and after camp, children's capacity for CC was measured using well‐validated, non‐trained behavioral tasks and error‐related negativity (ERN). Child anxiety symptoms were measured by parent report on the Spence Preschool Anxiety Scale. Results: Thirty‐two children completed the study, as defined by completion of pre‐ and follow‐up assessments and at least three camp sessions. From baseline to after camp, performance on behavioral tests of CC improved, ERN amplitude increased, and anxiety symptoms decreased. Conclusion: Results provide initial evidence that play‐based cognitive training targeted to behavioral and brain markers of CC reduces anxiety in preschoolers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combustible carbon-based energy is still prevailing as the world's leading energy due to its high energy density. However, the oxidation of these hydrocarbons disturbs the natural carbon cycle greatly by increasing greenhouse gases. As emission legislation becomes more rigorous, lean premixed combustion becomes promising because it can reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) emissions without compromising efficiency. However, utilising lean premixed flames in industrial combustors is not easy because of its thermo-acoustic instabilities associated with pressure fluctuations and the non-linearity in the mean reaction rate. Therefore, reliable predictive combustion models are required to predict emissions with sensible computational costs to use the mode efficiently in designing environmentally friendly combustion systems. Along with the promising methodologies capable of modelling turbulent premixed flames with low computational costs is the ERN-RANS framework. Thus, this study aims to compute a bluff-body stabilised premixed flames close to blow-Off using the ERN-RANS framework. As a result, a satisfactory agreement is reached between the predicted and measured values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare‐earth semiconducting mononitrides (RENs) are an emerging class of materials due to their unique electronic and magnetic properties originating from strongly localized 4f orbitals. Erbium nitride (ErN) is one of the most promising REN and attracts significant interest for spintronics, thermoelectric, and Gifford–McMahon cryo‐cooler applications. However, despite such progress, growth and characterization of the physical properties of ErN are rather challenging due to its propensity for oxidation, and no report on its thermal transport properties exists to date. Recently, high‐quality ErN thin films are deposited and are stabilized in ambient with thin capping layers. Herein this letter, first‐principles density functional perturbation theory to model the vibrational spectrum of ErN is utilized and the calculations with the phonon frequency measurements with inelastic Raman spectroscopy are verified. Consistent with its polar dielectric nature, ErN exhibits a longitudinal‐optical transverse‐optical phonon mode splitting at the Γ‐point with a separation of 333 cm−1. Time‐domain thermoreflectance is used to measure the low‐temperature (80 –300 K) thermal conductivity of ErN films. At room temperature, ErN films exhibit a low thermal conductivity of 1.16 ± 0.15 and 2 ± 0.2 W mK−1 on (001) MgO and (0001) Al2O3 substrates, respectively, making them attractive for thermoelectrics and thermal barrier coating applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]