The impact of punishment on error-related brain activity in children

The error-related negativity (ERN) is sensitive to individual differences relating to anxiety and is modulated by manipulations that increase the threat-value of committing errors. In adults, the ERN magnitude is enhanced when errors are followed by punishment, especially among anxious individuals. Punitive parenting is related to an elevated ERN in children; however, the effects of task-based punishment on the ERN in children have yet to be understood. Furthermore, there is a need to assess developmental periods wherein the ERN might be especially prone to modulation by punishment. We examined the impact of punishment on the ERN in a sample of children and assessed whether the impact of punishment on the ERN was moderated by age and anxiety. Punishment potentiated the ERN in children, especially among higher trait-anxious individuals; the punishment potentiation of the ERN was also associated with older age. The interaction between child age and anxiety symptoms did not significantly predict the punishment potentiation of the ERN; however, both child age and anxiety symptoms uniquely predicted the punishment potentiation of the increment ERN. Anxious children may be especially prone to punishment-related alterations in error monitoring, and the impact of punishment on the ERN may become more pronounced as children age.