Psychophysiological Mechanisms of Math Anxiety: Review of Current Research

Mathematical anxiety (MA) negatively affects all aspects of activities related to manipulating numbers, both in education and in everyday life. MA is negatively associated with mathematical self-efficacy, subjective value of mathematics, attitude, and interest towards mathematics. Individuals with pronounced MA have a lower need for cognitive load and reflective thinking. Among the predictors of MA, cognitive, personality, and social aspects can be identified. The question of the brain mechanisms of MA remains relevant. The review provides an analysis of studies on the neurophysiological correlates of mathematical anxiety using modern psychophysiological methods: electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results of studies using these methods are inconsistent. When studying MA, attention is paid to brain structures associated with the processing of both emotional information and cognitive processes. The analysis of the literature has shown that when implementing corrective measures, it is important to consider the lack of a unified theoretical approach, which raises questions about the causes of MA.