When More Anxiety Is Better The Influence of Working Memory

							   Anxiety may hinder our ability to perform
    at an optimal level
    › test anxiety
    › phobias




                             › Ashcraft & Kirk (2007)
   Working memory can be impaired by
    anxiety

   Math anxiety loads working memory
    › Decreases math performance




                                   › Ashcraft & Kirk (2001)
   Clinical depression leads to:
    › Negative rumination
    › Poor working memory
   Van Dillen & Koole (2007)

   Whether & how loading working memory
    can decrease negative mood
   Picture
         Neutral
         Mildly negative
         Strongly negative

   Task Complexity
         Simple math
         Complex math
 Mood ratings
   1- not at all
   9 – very much
   Increasing task load  decrease in negative
    mood
   Individual differences
    › High & low working memory capacity
    › High & low trait anxiety


       High Working Memory       Low Working Memory

         High Trait Anxiety        Low Trait Anxiety



       High Working Memory       Low Working Memory

         Low Trait Anxiety        High Trait Anxiety
 1. Complex math tasks will provide more of
  distraction from negative mood than easier math
  tasks
 2. Individuals with high working memory capacity
  will experience a lesser distraction from negative
  mood
 3. Individuals with high trait anxiety will experience
  more of a distraction from negative mood
 4. Individuals with high trait anxiety & low working
  memory capacity will experience the most
  distraction from negative mood when completing a
  difficult math task
   IV’s                     › Task complexity
     › Working memory           Easy
       capacity                 Difficult
        High                › Picture negativity
        Low                    Neutral
     › Trait anxiety level      Mildly Negative
        High                   Strongly Negative
        Low
                     DV      Mood
 Informed  Consent
 Demographics Survey
 State - Trait Anxiety Inventory
 Working memory
  › Operational Span Task
     (2*2) + 1 = 5 disk
 Picture   Viewing Task
                     Mildly Negative    Strongly Negative
  Neutral Image
                          Image              Image
       (60)
                           (30)                (30)




Simple    Complex   Simple    Complex   Simple    Complex
 Math      Math      Math      Math      Math      Math
  (30)      (30)      (15)      (15)      (15)      (15)




                      Mood Rating
               Mood Rating

9/3 + 4 = 17   1 - Strongly Negative

               9 -Strongly Positive
   Significant main effect of mood
    › F (1,117) = 42.561, p < .01
   Main effect of picture negativity
    › F (1, 117) = 194.150, p < .01
   Complex math tasks will provide more of distraction
    from negative mood than easier math tasks
   Significant interaction
     › Math Complexity x Picture Negativity
        F (2, 117) = 4.666, p = .010
   Individuals with high working memory capacity will
    experience a lesser distraction from negative mood
   No significant interaction
     › Picture Negativity x Working Memory Capacity
        F (2, 117) = 1.451, p = .237
 Individuals with high trait anxiety will experience
  more of a distraction from negative mood
 No significant interaction
   › F (2, 96) = .586, p =.557
 Individuals with high working memory & low anxiety will
  experience the most distraction from negative mood
  when completing a difficult math task
 No significant interaction
   › F (2, 96) = 1.242, p = .291
   Discrepancies
    › Cultural differences
       Amsterdam v. Erie, PA
         More open society
          More extreme media
         Math performance is higher in Europe
    › Different Likert Scale
       1- not at all negative, 9 – very much negative
       1- strongly negative, 9 – strongly positive
         Does anchoring the scale differently completely
          change how it is perceived?
   Future research
    › Investigate situations where loading WM
      may improve mood
    › Compare across cultures
    › Protective effects of religiosity
   Implications
    › Potential therapeutic interventions