Characterizing the anomalous cognition-emotion interactions in externalizing

► Studied cognition-emotion interplay in externalizing with startle and imaging. ► Externalizing was not associated with global emotional hyperreactivity. ► Externalizing was not associated with a primary deficit in executive functioning. ► Externalizing was associated with an exaggerated attention response to threat. ► Exaggerated attention responses undermine executive functions and emotion regulation.