Trait anger and the reward positivity

Although research shows that affect and motivation-related variables influence the amplitude of the Reward Positivity (RewP) event-related potential (ERP), motivational direction (approach versus avoidance) and affective valence (positive versus negative) have been confounded. As a negatively valenced yet approach motivation-related emotion, anger can be used to tease apart motivational direction versus affective valence contributions to the RewP amplitude. The present study examined the relation between trait anger and RewP. Participants were 98 young adult student volunteers who completed the Doors reward task and self-report questionnaires. Their asymmetric frontal cortical activity during resting baseline was also examined. Results revealed that trait anger was positively correlated with the RewP amplitude. The present study contributes to the literature by providing novel evidence for the link between trait anger and the RewP

Obsessive compulsive symptoms and sleep difficulties: Exploring the unique relationship between insomnia and obsessions

Sleep complaints have been linked with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), though there is a dearth of research exploring the association between a range of disturbed sleep indicators and obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS). Two separate studies were conducted to rigorously investigate this relationship in further detail, considering a number of different sleep indices and also the heterogeneous nature of OCS. Study 1 (n = 167) examined the relationship between OCS and the gold standard self-report assessments for delayed bedtime, sleep quality, nightmares, and insomnia symptoms. Study 2 (n = 352) replicated the primary findings from Study 1 in an independent sample and with an alternative measure of OCD, which takes into account the different OCS dimensions. Results revealed a significant, independent link between obsessions and insomnia symptoms, but not between insomnia and compulsions. When examining the different OCS dimensions, insomnia was again found to bear a specific relationship to obsessions, above and beyond that with the other dimensions. Although depression is often highly comorbid with both OCD and sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms did not explain the OCS-sleep relationship in either study, suggesting a unique association between obsessions and insomnia. Findings indicate that high levels of intrusive thoughts exhibit a specific association with insomnia symptoms–one that is not observed with other OCS. Future research may help elucidate the mechanisms and causal nature of this relationship. •Examined relationship between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and sleep disturbances.•Significant and specific link between insomnia and obsessions, but not compulsions.•Depressive symptoms did not explain the OCS-sleep relationship