PMC

Stress amplified early perceptual processing (N1) and attenuated subsequent postperceptual processing (P3). The N1 and P3 components are shown in A and B, respectively. Three-dimensional topographic maps depict the thresholded threat versus safe contrast (uncorrected p < 0.05, corrected p < 0.10). Two-dimensional topographic maps depict the voltage for each condition. Results are shown for the average reference.

Stress double-dissociated earlier from later task-evoked GFP (SD μV). Threat amplified the N1 (184–236 ms) and attenuated the P3 (316–488 ms), without substantially altering the P1 (112–144 ms). Confidence bars indicate the probability of the null hypothesis being rejected by chance; non-overlapping bars indicate p < 0.05 ().

Greater attenuation of the P3 at right-frontal electrodes predicted reduced task performance. Mean P3 activity in this cluster was attenuated under threat, depicted in the three-dimensional topographic map. Individuals showing greater P3 attenuation in this cluster exhibited worse performance on the discrimination task, indexed by increased RT, ρ = 0.45. The joint test was significant, p = 0.02.