The impacts of hormonal contraceptive use and state worry on the association between trait worry and cognitive control: A replication and extension.

Research has begun to highlight the important role of endogenous and exogenous hormones in associations between anxiety and cognitive function. Our group and others have recently demonstrated that the association between worry, the cognitive component of anxiety involving future-oriented negative thinking, and cognitive control-related error monitoring is sensitive to both endogenous and exogenous hormones. Specifically, we have previously demonstrated that the association between trait worry and the error-related negativity (ERN), a neurophysiological marker of cognitive control-related error monitoring, is moderated by hormonal contraceptive (HC) use, such that females using HCs showed a larger association between worry and the ERN than naturally cycling (NC) females. In the present investigation, we aimed to replicate this finding in an independent sample of females and extend it by considering the additional role of state worry. Results replicated our finding of a significant association between trait worry and enlarged ERN in females using HCs, which was smaller and nonsignificant in NC females. State worry suppressed the association between trait worry and enlarged ERN in HC users. Finally, NC females showed an association between trait worry and inefficient behavioral performance that was likewise suppressed under state worry. Together, findings reveal a complex interplay between state and trait worry and exogenous and endogenous hormones in associations between anxiety and different aspects of cognitive control.