Test–retest reliability of eye tracking during the visual probe task in cocaine-using adults

Abstract

BackgroundStimuli associated with cocaine use capture attention. Evidence suggests that fixation time measured on the visual probe task is a valid measure of cocaine cue attentional bias. The aim of this experiment was to demonstrate the test–retest reliability of cocaine cue attentional bias as measured by fixation time during the visual probe task. MethodsIn a within-subject, repeated-measures design, thirty-six non-treatment seeking cocaine-using adults completed a visual probe task with eye tracking. ResultsParticipants displayed an attentional bias to cocaine-related images as measured by fixation time across two occasions (F (1, 35)=56.5, p<0.0001). A Pearson correlation indicated significant test–retest reliability for this effect (r=0.51, p=0.001). Response time failed to detect an attentional bias and test–retest reliability was low (r=0.24, p=0.16). ConclusionFixation time during the visual probe task is a reliable measure of cocaine cue attentional bias in cocaine-using adults across time.