The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people
Abstract This study explores the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying math avoidance in individuals with high math anxiety (HMA), a pattern contributing to reduced practice and poor performance. Using an approach-avoid conflict paradigm and both general linear mixed model and Hierarchical Drif...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | npj Science of Learning |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00343-0 |
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| author | Jie Liu Zhifeng Li Jiawang Yang Hao He Fang Cui |
| author_facet | Jie Liu Zhifeng Li Jiawang Yang Hao He Fang Cui |
| author_sort | Jie Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study explores the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying math avoidance in individuals with high math anxiety (HMA), a pattern contributing to reduced practice and poor performance. Using an approach-avoid conflict paradigm and both general linear mixed model and Hierarchical Drift Diffusion Model (HDDM) regression analyses, we found their avoidance behavior is primarily driven by heightened sensitivity to task difficulty, rather than reward sensitivity. Task difficulty sensitivity also mediated the link between math anxiety and avoidance tendency. Neuroimaging revealed distinct activation in the ventral valuation network (e.g., nucleus accumbens, hippocampus) and cognitive control regions (e.g., precuneus, mid-cingulate cortex, temporo-parietal junction) in HMA individuals. Functional connectivity among these regions effectively distinguished HMA from low math anxiety participants. Additionally, activations in the hippocampus, mid-cingulate cortex, and posterior insula mediated the relationship between math anxiety and avoidance. These findings highlight the cognitive and neural bases of math avoidance and may inform targeted interventions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1e9515c4f09d403399acd87d2334cd3f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2056-7936 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Science of Learning |
| spelling | doaj-art-1e9515c4f09d403399acd87d2334cd3f2025-08-20T03:45:46ZengNature Portfolionpj Science of Learning2056-79362025-08-0110111010.1038/s41539-025-00343-0The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious peopleJie Liu0Zhifeng Li1Jiawang Yang2Hao He3Fang Cui4School of Psychology, Shenzhen UniversitySchool of Psychology, Shenzhen UniversityInstitute of Psychology, CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Chinese Academy of SciencesSchool of Education, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies South China Business CollegeSchool of Psychology, Shenzhen UniversityAbstract This study explores the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying math avoidance in individuals with high math anxiety (HMA), a pattern contributing to reduced practice and poor performance. Using an approach-avoid conflict paradigm and both general linear mixed model and Hierarchical Drift Diffusion Model (HDDM) regression analyses, we found their avoidance behavior is primarily driven by heightened sensitivity to task difficulty, rather than reward sensitivity. Task difficulty sensitivity also mediated the link between math anxiety and avoidance tendency. Neuroimaging revealed distinct activation in the ventral valuation network (e.g., nucleus accumbens, hippocampus) and cognitive control regions (e.g., precuneus, mid-cingulate cortex, temporo-parietal junction) in HMA individuals. Functional connectivity among these regions effectively distinguished HMA from low math anxiety participants. Additionally, activations in the hippocampus, mid-cingulate cortex, and posterior insula mediated the relationship between math anxiety and avoidance. These findings highlight the cognitive and neural bases of math avoidance and may inform targeted interventions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00343-0 |
| spellingShingle | Jie Liu Zhifeng Li Jiawang Yang Hao He Fang Cui The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people npj Science of Learning |
| title | The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people |
| title_full | The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people |
| title_fullStr | The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people |
| title_full_unstemmed | The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people |
| title_short | The neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people |
| title_sort | neurocognitive mechanism underlying math avoidance among math anxious people |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00343-0 |
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