ERN modulation under sustained threat: A pre-registered report

How ERN is modulated by external contingencies remains an open question. In accordance with the RDoC Sustained Threat construct, the current study tests a paradigm that manipulates the degree of external threat, while considering trait differences in anxiety. EEG was recorded from 46 participants during 4 experimental conditions (initial no-threat, immediate threat, sustained threat, final no-threat). This study is a pre-registered report and all procedures were described a priori. No support was found for the confirmatory hypothesis. ERN amplitude was not modulated by the sustained threat condition or a lasting effect of punishment. The sustained threat condition (vs. immediate threat) increased error significance only in the low trait-anxiety. The exploratory results highlight the role of Pe and somatic anxiety.