Midfrontal Theta As A Biomarker of Trait Worry: Insights from Resting State and a Reinforcement Learning Task

Abstract

Anxiety disorders account for billions in unnecessary medical costs and care (Keesler & Greenberg, 2002). Worry is a defining feature of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (one of the most common anxiety disorders) as well as a comorbid syndrome with many other psychopathologies (i.e., depression, PTSD, etc.). Given this the need to understand the pathophysiology of worry and its impact on brain function, in particular, is paramount in informing future intervention. The present study aimed to examine whether midfrontal theta electroencephalography (EEG) represented an adequate biomarker for understanding the pathophysiology of trait worry. Moreover, this study sought to examine the possible links between trait worry, midfrontal theta, and emotional contrast avoidance (the tendency to use worry to dampen and avoid negative emotional shifts). This research recruited a sample of college students stratified by trait worry level (low, mid, and high) to examine midfrontal theta activity at rest and during a reinforcement learning task. These findings indicate that increased midfrontal theta at rest is significantly predicted by both high trait worry and high contrast avoidance scores. In addition, this study replicated other behavioral findings that demonstrate midfrontal theta’s role in signaling for greater cognitive control during reinforcement learning tasks. Taken together the findings suggest midfrontal theta as a viable biomarker of trait worry. Future directions and limitations will be discussed.