Threat‐induced alterations in cognition and associations with dysregulated behavior

Previous literature suggests that threat disrupts cognitive control, especially for those prone to engaging in dysregulated behaviors (i.e., maladaptive attempts at regulating stress). However, this relationship is not well understood and has yet to be directly examined. The current study extends previous literature by examining the link between individual differences in dysregulation and threat‐related alterations in neurocognitive and behavioral indicators of cognitive control. Using a diverse community sample (N = 143), we recorded participants' brain activity during a flanker task under conditions of predictable, unpredictable, and no threat‐of‐shock. Findings revealed a nuanced relationship, whereby predictable threat, relative to unpredictable threat, was associated with larger N2 to flankers, perhaps at the expense of a reduced later P3. We also found a relationship between proneness toward dysregulated behaviors and threat‐induced alterations of cognitive control, with those higher in dysregulation showing reduced conflict P3 differentiation and accuracy interference during threat vs. no threat conditions. This research expands what is known about how threat can modulate cognition in everyday life and linked it to dysregulated behaviors with high societal burden. Previous literature suggests that stress increases proneness toward rash decision‐making—especially when the stressor (“threat”) is unpredictable and among those prone to dysregulated behaviors (e.g., aggression, self‐harm). There is a need to specify the cognitive mechanisms that promote threat‐related dysregulation. Our study directly examines this in a laboratory study using event‐related potential measures of cognitive control. Results offer insights on how stress impacts behavior among persons with problems of regulation, which could inform treatment.