Experimental control of conflict in a predictive visual probe task: Highly reliable bias scores related to anxiety

Thomas Edward Gladwin,Monika Halls,Matthijs Vink

doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103357

Abstract

Concerns have been raised about the low reliability of measurements of spatial attentional bias via RT differences in dot-probe tasks. The anticipatory form of the bias, directed towards predicted future stimuli, appears to have relatively good reliability, reaching around 0.70. However, studies thus far have not attempted to experimentally control task-related influence on bias, which could further improve reliability. Evoking top-down versus bottom-up conflict may furthermore reveal associations with individual differences related to mental health. In the current study, a sample of 143 participants performed a predictive Visual Probe Task (predVPT) with angry and neutral face stimuli online. In this task, an automatic bias is induced via visually neutral cues that predict the location of an upcoming angry face. A task-relevant bias was induced via blockwise shifts in the likely location of target stimuli. The bias score resulting from these factors was calculated as RTs to target stimuli at locations of predicted but not actually presented angry versus neutral faces. Correlations were tested with anxiety, depression, self-esteem and aggression scales. An overall bias towards threat was found with a split-half reliability of 0.90, and 0.89 after outlier removal. Avoidance of threat in blocks with a task-relevant bias away from threat was correlated with anxiety, with correction for multiple testing. The same relationship was nominally significant for depression and low self-esteem. In conclusion, we showed high reliability of spatial attentional bias that was related to anxiety.

Highlights

When confronted with multiple stimuli that could evoke a response, but to which only some can be responded at a time, selective attention is required to select particular stimuli for further processing (Carrasco, 2011)
The results suggest that increased anxiety, increased depres sion, and lower self-esteem were all related to a tendency to avoid up coming threat when this was in line with task-relevant contingencies; with the evidence being strongest for anxiety
The current study used a version of the predictive Visual Probe Task (predVPT) in which the rela tionship between an emotion-related attentional bias and a task-related attentional bias was manipulated

Summary

Introduction

When confronted with multiple stimuli that could evoke a response, but to which only some can be responded at a time, selective attention is required to select particular stimuli for further processing (Carrasco, 2011). Positive visual attentional bias has been shown to aid emotion regulation in stressful situations (Wadlinger & Isaacowitz, 2008) It is statistically necessary for the detection of re lationships involving individual differences that the used measures are reliable, and recent studies have shown that the dot-probe task has very poor reliability (e.g., Ataya et al, 2012; Brown et al, 2014; Chapman et al, 2019; Cooper et al, 2011; Dear et al, 2011; Kappenman et al, 2014; Waechter & Stolz, 2015). Results may need to be (re-)gathered using attentional bias measures with improved psychometric properties for the field to move forward

Methods

Results

Conclusion