Regulating Emotion through Attentional Training: Paradigms and Evidences

Abstract

Attentional training has raised considerable interest in the field of emotion regulation.Substantial research has suggested that attentional training can regulate emotion via changing the process of attention.There are four training paradigms: dot-probe task,visual search task,goal-directed attentional training task and attention training technique(ATT).Among the four paradigms,dot-probe task has been investigated most extensively.Researchers have developed multiple-session training which lasts few weeks.In addition,home-based attentional training based on dot-probe task can be done without experimenter's presence at home.Therefore it is a promising substitute of traditional psychotherapy for individuals with psychopathology.Future studies may benefit from examining the long-term effects of attentional training,exploring the utility of home-based attentional training,and testifying the preventative effects of attentional training on emotional disorder.