Refining the maths anxiety phenotype using cognitive, neuroscientific, and behavioural genetic approaches

Research on negative affect in academic performance accelerated in recent years. In particular, the construct of Maths Anxiety (MA) has received substantial attention in the last decade. The present thesis offers an interdisciplinary account on MA as it draws on research from many different domains. Part 1 of the present thesis concerns a comprehensive review of selected findings on MA. These findings range from the definitions of MA, through the aetiology, to the cognitive mechanisms involved in MA. Part 1 is designed to lead the reader into the psychophysiological investigations on MA. Part 2 presents two large experimental studies on the reliability of a new paradigm as well as investigation into altered anticipation and performance under MA. Part 3 presents a behavioural genetic account on the aetiology of MA and its overlap with selected aspects of cognition. The thesis end with a general discussion of the findings and limitations of the current thesis.