Modification of threat-processing in non-anxious individuals: a preliminary, behavioral and ERP study

Suway, J.G., White, L. K., Vanderwert, Ross ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2280-8401, Bar-Haim, Y., Pine, D.S. and Fox, N.A. 2013. Modification of threat-processing in non-anxious individuals: a preliminary, behavioral and ERP study. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 44 (3) , pp. 285-292. 10.1016/j.jbtep.2012.11.006

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Abstract

Background and objectives: Previous research suggests that attention bias toward threat contributes to the development and maintenance of anxiety. The current study extends this work by mapping the neural correlates of experimentally-induced changes in attention bias. The study examines both behavioral and psychophysiological changes associated with experimentally-induced changes in threat bias. Methods: Thirty-four non-anxious female adults were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: training attention toward threat or placebo control. Attention bias was assessed and trained via a modified dot-probe task. Participants completed pre- and post-training assessments of attention bias and stress reactivity. As well, EEG was collected during pre- and post-test assessment of attention bias using the dot-probe task. Results: Training induced significant changes in attention bias, though findings were complicated by group differences in baseline threat-bias scores. Compared to controls, those in the training group showed greater depression vulnerability to a post-training stressor and increased P2 amplitude, an ERP component associated with attention toward threat, during the dot-probe task. Limitations: Although participants were randomly assigned to groups, there were still group differences in pre-training bias scores. Also, while the use of a stress task before the initial assessment of attention bias was used to control for initial differences in stress vulnerability, this may have altered pre-bias scores since participants completed this task immediately after being stressed. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate training-induced changes in behavior and neural response patterns relevant to work on attention bias modification.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date of Acceptance:	26 November 2012
Last Modified:	05 May 2023 10:05
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/79704

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