Pictorial Dot-probe Task Research Articles

Watch out! A path from anxiety to anorexia nervosa through biased attention?

Evidence points towards heightened anxiety and attention biases (AB) towards disorder-specific (threatening) stimuli in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). To date, it is unclear how anxiety and AB interact in eating disorders (ED). The present study tests the causal role of anxiety by inducing anxiety before a dot-probe task with either ED-specific stimuli or unspecific negative (threat-related) information. We expected that anxiety would elicit AB for ED-specific, but not for unspecific threat-related stimuli. Adolescents with AN (AN, n=32) or depression (DEP, n=27) and healthy controls (HC, n=29) underwent an anxiety induction or a low anxiety control task before a pictorial dot-probe task with either under-/overweight body-related pictures or non-disorder-related threatening pictures (angry faces). BMI, level of ED symptoms, anxiety, stress, and depression were assessed at baseline. The anxiety induction did not affect the observed attention pattern. AN showed an AB towards underweight body pictures compared to HC, whereas no disorder-unspecific threat-related AB emerged. Regression analyses revealed that only anxiety predicted the AB towards underweight body pictures. Further experimental research may integrate eye tracking as an additional tool, or collect information on body dissatisfaction to obtain a better understanding of how anxiety biases attention.

Selective attention to pain and empathy: Studying frequent blood donors.

Empathy is an interpersonal experience that enables understanding of other's emotions and can lead to altruistic behavior such as blood donation. Cognitive theories of empathy refer to selective attention as one of its cognitive dimensions. The current study examined if individuals who engage in altruistic behavior are characterized by a distinct pattern of selective attention to observation of pain in others. We recruited 50 volunteer blood donors. Half (n=25) of the volunteers donated for a self-declared altruistic reason, and the other half of the volunteers donated blood for a health-related reason. We assessed the individuals' self-reported empathy with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). We then measured the individuals' selective attention toward faces expressing pain in a pictorial dot-probe task. Consistent with the proposed hypothesis, participants who donated blood out of altruism reported significantly higher empathic concern on the IRI than those who donated blood for a health-related reason. The altruistic donors also showed significantly greater selective attention toward facial expressions of pain. Moreover, among all donors, self-report empathic concern on the IRI was significantly correlated with greater selective attention toward faces expressing pain. These findings suggest that altruistic individuals not only show higher levels of empathy, but also attend more to the pain of others. Limitations, implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

No preconscious attentional bias towards itch in healthy individuals.

Rapidly attending towards potentially harmful stimuli to prevent possible damage to the body is a critical component of adaptive behavior. Research suggests that individuals display an attentional bias, i.e., preferential allocation of attention, for consciously perceived bodily sensations that signal potential threat, like itch or pain. Evidence is not yet clear whether an attentional bias also exists for stimuli that have been presented for such a short duration that they do not enter the stream of consciousness. This study investigated whether a preconscious attentional bias towards itch-related pictures exists in 127 healthy participants and whether this can be influenced by priming with mild itch-related stimuli compared to control stimuli. Mild itch was induced with von Frey monofilaments and scratching sounds, while control stimuli where of matched modalities but neutral. Attentional bias was measured with a subliminal pictorial dot-probe task. Moreover, we investigated how attentional inhibition of irrelevant information and the ability to switch between different tasks, i.e., cognitive flexibility, contribute to the emergence of an attentional bias. Attentional inhibition was measured with a Flanker paradigm and cognitive flexibility was measured with a cued-switching paradigm. Contrary to our expectations, results showed that participants attention was not biased towards the itch-related pictures, in facts, attention was significantly drawn towards the neutral pictures. In addition, no effect of the itch-related priming was observed. Finally, this effect was not influenced by participants' attentional inhibition and cognitive flexibility. Therefore, we have no evidence for a preconscious attentional bias towards itch stimuli. The role of preconscious attentional bias in patients with chronic itch should be investigated in future studies.

Early and late dot-probe attentional bias to mild and high threat pictures: Relations with EEG theta/beta ratio, self-reported trait attentional control, and trait anxiety.

Frontal EEG theta/beta ratio (TBR; negatively associated with attentional control, or AC) was previously reported to moderate threat-level dependent attentional bias in a pictorial dot-probe task, interacting with trait anxiety. Unexpectedly, this was independent from processing stage (using cue-target delays of 200 and 500ms) and also not observed for self-reported trait AC. We therefore aimed to replicate these effects of TBR and trait anxiety and to test if effects of early versus late processing stages are evident for shorter cue-target delays. This study also revisited the hypothesis that TBR and self-reported trait AC show similar effects. Fifty-three participants provided measurements of frontal TBR, self-reported trait AC, trait anxiety, and dot-probe task bias for mild and high threat pictures using the same dot-probe task, but this time with 80- and 200-ms cue-target delays. Results indicated that higher TBR predicted more attention to mild than high threat, but this was independent from trait anxiety or delay. Lower self-reported trait AC predicted more attention to mild than high threat, only after 200ms (also independent of trait anxiety). We conclude that the moderating effect of TBR on threat-level dependent dot-probe task bias was replicated, but not the role of trait anxiety, and this study partially confirms that effects of trait AC are more dominant in later processing.

Attentional Orientation Patterns toward Emotional Faces and Temperamental Correlates of Preschool Oppositional Defiant Problems: The Moderating Role of Callous-Unemotional Traits and Anxiety Symptoms.

The present study examined the independent contributions and the interaction effects of oppositional defiant problems (ODD), callous unemotional traits (CU) and anxiety symptoms on attentional orienting to emotional faces, in a community sample of preschoolers. Additionally, based on Rothbart's (2007) model of temperament, we analyzed whether fine-grained dimensions of reactivity (fear, anger, discomfort, sadness, activity level, approach, high intensity pleasure, impulsivity) and self-regulation (attentional shifting, attentional focusing, inhibitory control), as well as the higher order temperamental factors of negative affectivity, surgency and effortful control are associated with CU traits and ODD-related problems. Attentional orienting to emotional faces was assessed with pictorial Dot-probe task, while teachers rated CU traits and ODD-related problems. Also, parents reported on ODD-related problems, anxiety and temperament. Results indicated significant interaction effects between ODD-related problems and CU, as well as between CU and anxiety, in predicting attentional orientation patterns for angry, fearful and happy faces. Moreover, temperamental reactivity was positively associated with CU traits and ODD-related problems, whereas temperamental self-regulation was negatively related to CU traits and ODD-related problems. Results of this study have implications for early intervention and prevention approaches targeting preschool oppositional defiant problems.

The Effect of Perceived Injustice on Appraisals of Physical Activity: An Examination of the Mediating Role of Attention Bias to Pain in a Chronic Low Back Pain Sample.

This article identifies significant associations between perceived injustice, biased attention to pain, and appraisals of common physical activities among individuals with chronic low back pain. These findings suggest targets for intervention as well as directions for future research regarding individuals with high perceptions of injustice related to pain.

Child temperamental reactivity and self-regulation effects on attentional biases.

This study examined the effects of individual differences in temperamental reactivity (fear) and self-regulation (attentional control) on attentional biases toward threat in a sample of school-aged children (age range was between 9 years 1 month and 13 years 10 months). Attentional biases were assessed with pictorial Dot-probe task, comparing attention allocation toward angry (threat-related) vs. neutral and happy faces. Children also completed self-report temperamental measures of fear and attentional control. We compared attentional bias scores in 4 groups of children: high/low fear and high/low attentional control. Results indicated that, in the case of children with high fear and low attentional control, attention was significantly biased toward angry faces compared with children who had low fear and low attentional control. Findings are discussed in terms of the moderating role of individual differences in attentional control in the context of threat, anxiety-related attentional biases in children.

Fear of evaluation in social anxiety: Mediation of attentional bias to human faces

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a debilitating psychological disorder characterised by excessive fears of one or more social or performance situations, where there is potential for evaluation by others. A recently expanded cognitive-behavioural model of SAD emphasizes that both the fear of negative evaluation (FNE) and the fear of positive evaluation (FPE) contribute to enduring symptoms of SAD. Research also suggests that socially anxious individuals may show biases toward threat relevant stimuli, such as angry faces. The current study utilised a modified version of the pictorial dot-probe task in order to examine whether FNE and FPE mediate the relationship between social anxiety and an attentional bias. A group of 38 participants with moderate to high levels of self-reported social anxiety were tested in groups of two to four people and were advised that they would be required to deliver an impromptu speech. All participants then completed an assessment of attentional bias using angry-neutral, happy-neutral, and angry-happy face pairs. Conditions were satisfied for only one mediation model, indicating that the relationship between social anxiety and attentional avoidance of angry faces was mediated by FPE. These findings have important clinical implications for types of treatment concerning cognitive symptoms of SAD, along with advancing models of social anxiety. Limitations and ideas for future research from the current study were also discussed.

The effect of experimental pain on attentional bias in a pictorial dot-probe task

Objective To investigate the effect of moderate pain on attentional bias towards emotional pictures among healthy subjects.Methods Thirty-two healthy college students aged from 17 to 26 (21.8±2.2;16 males and 16 females) participated in this study.A tourniquet was tied to each subject's left upper arm 1 to 2cm above the cubits horizontal grain.Pain was inflicted by inflating the tourniquet,and the pressure was maintained at 26.66kPa.While tourniquet was inflated (with pain) or not (no pain),each subject was asked to finish a pictorial dot-probe task with three kinds of pictures-emotionally positive,negative and neutral.In experiment 1,subjects performed the dot-probe tasks with the contralateral hand while the tourniquet was tied on the left upper arm without inflation.In experiment 2 the tourniquet was inflated until the subject completed the dot-probe task (for about 10min).The reaction times (RTs) and the error rates (Ers) in the recognition task were recorded,and the intensity of the subject's pain and discomfort were measured using a verbal rating scale.Results The subjects reported moderate to severe pain with the tourniquet inflated.The RT and ER data were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) which showed a significant difference between the average RTs of the males (482±73ms without pain and 466±82ms with pain) and those of the females (536±90ms without pain and 519±100 ms with pain).The average ER was significantly different between the pain (2.38±1.49)％ and no pain (1.09±0.82)％ conditions in both groups.Holn-Sidak multiple comparison testing showed significant differences in both groups' average ER between the negative picture (3.81±1.73)％ and the positive picture (1.66±0.97)％,and between the negative and neutral pictures (1.68±0.8) ％ in the pain condition.Mild attentional avoidance was observed with the positive [pain condition (-5.1±4.8) ms and no pain (-4.6±4)ms] and negative pictures [pain condition (-3.43±6) ms and no pain (-0.79±4.1)ms],but no significant difference was found between the pain and no pain conditions.Conclusion The error rate in a pictorial dot-probe task is influenced by pain,especially with negative pictures. Key words: Pain; Attentional bias; Emotional pictures; Dot-probe tasks

Anxiety-related attention biases in preschoolers: an investigation using the pictorial dot-probe task

The present study examined in preschool aged children the effects of threat-related attention biases on anxiety symptoms. In addition, we also measured reactive and regulative temperamental traits, given that it is believed that these temperamental traits might be related to both attention biases and anxiety symptoms. Results showed that attention biases were associated with higher levels of anxiety symptoms. Furthermore, a marginally significant interactive effect of attention biases towards happy faces and inhibitory control on anxiety symptoms was found. These data are some of the first providing support for the presence of anxiety-related attention biases early in the development.

The time-course of threat processing in children: a temporal dissociation between selective attention and behavioral interference

Although selective attention to threatening information is an adaptive mechanism, exaggerated attention to threat may be related to anxiety disorders. However, studies examining threat processing in children have obtained mixed findings. In the present study, the time-course of attentional bias for threat and behavioral interference was analyzed in a community sample of 8–18-year-old children (N=33) using a pictorial dot probe task. Threatening and neutral stimuli were shown during 17 ms (masked), 500 ms, and 1250 ms. Results provide preliminary evidence of an automatic attentional bias for threat at 17 ms that persists during later, more controlled stages of information processing (500 and 1250 ms). Furthermore, participants showed a delayed response to threat-containing trials relative to neutral trials in the 500 and 1250 ms condition, which may indicate interference by threat. Together, these results suggest that an attentional bias for threat precedes behavioral interference in children. Furthermore, results indicate that performance in daily life can be temporarily interrupted by the processing of threatening information. In addition, results of earlier studies into selective attention in children using tasks based on behavioral responses may have been confounded by interference effects of threat. For future studies, we recommend to take behavioral interference into account.

CBT for childhood anxiety disorders: differential changes in selective attention between treatment responders and non‐responders

This study examined whether treatment response to stepped-care cognitive-behavioural treatment (CBT) is associated with changes in threat-related selective attention and its specific components in a large clinical sample of anxiety-disordered children. Ninety-one children with an anxiety disorder were included in the present study. Children received a standardized stepped-care CBT. Three treatment response groups were distinguished: initial responders (anxiety disorder free after phase one: child-focused CBT), secondary responders (anxiety disorder free after phase two: child-parent-focused CBT), and treatment non-responders. Treatment response was determined using a semi-structured clinical interview. Children performed a pictorial dot-probe task before and after stepped-care CBT (i.e., before phase one and after phase two CBT). Changes in selective attention to severely threatening pictures, but not to mildly threatening pictures, were significantly associated with treatment success. At pre-treatment assessment, initial responders selectively attended away from severely threatening pictures, whereas secondary responders selectively attended toward severely threatening pictures. After stepped-care CBT, initial and secondary responders did not show any selectivity in the attentional processing of severely threatening pictures. Treatment non-responders did not show any changes in selective attention due to CBT. Initial and secondary treatment responders showed a reduction of their predisposition to selectively attend away or toward severely threatening pictures, respectively. Treatment non-responders did not show any changes in selective attention. The pictorial dot-probe task can be considered a potentially valuable tool in assigning children to appropriate treatment formats as well as for monitoring changes in selective attention during the course of CBT.

Threat-Related Selective Attention Predicts Treatment Success in Childhood Anxiety Disorders

ObjectiveThe present study examined whether threat-related selective attention was predictive of treatment success in children with anxiety disorders and whether age moderated this association. Specific components of selective attention were examined in treatment responders and nonresponders. MethodParticipants consisted of 131 children with anxiety disorders (aged 8–16 years), who received standardized cognitive-behavioral therapy. At pretreatment, a pictorial dot-probe task was administered to assess selective attention. Both at pretreatment and posttreatment, diagnostic status of the children was evaluated with a semistructured clinical interview (the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children). ResultsSelective attention for severely threatening pictures at pretreatment assessment was predictive of treatment success. Examination of the specific components of selective attention revealed that nonresponders showed difficulties to disengage their attention away from severe threat. Treatment responders showed a tendency not to engage their attention toward severe threat. Age was not associated with selective attention and treatment success. ConclusionsThreat-related selective attention is a significant predictor of treatment success in children with anxiety disorders. Clinically anxious children with difficulties disengaging their attention away from severe threat profit less from cognitive-behavioral therapy. For these children, additional training focused on learning to disengage attention away from anxiety-arousing stimuli may be beneficial.

Attentional bias for craving-related (chocolate) food cues.

In this study, we investigated attentional biases for craving-related food cues. A pictorial dot probe task was used to assess selective attentional processing of one particular highly desired food, namely chocolate, relative to that of other highly desired foods. In Experiment 1, we examined biased processing of chocolate cues in habitual (trait) chocolate cravers, whereas in Experiment 2 we investigated the effect of experimentally induced (state) chocolate cravings on such processing. As predicted, habitual chocolate cravers (Experiment 1) and individuals in whom a craving for chocolate was temporarily induced (Experiment 2) showed speeded detection of probes replacing chocolate-related pictures, demonstrating an attentional bias for chocolate cues. Subsequent examination indicated that in both experiments the observed attentional biases stemmed from difficulty in disengaging attention from chocolate cues rather than from a shift of attention toward such cues. The findings have important theoretical and practical implications.

Watch Out for the Beast: Fear Information and Attentional Bias in Children

Although valenced information about novel animals changes the implicit and explicit fear beliefs of children (Field & Lawson, 2003), how it might lead to anxiety is unknown. One possibility, based on cognitive models of anxiety, is that fear information creates attentional biases similar to those seen in anxiety disorders. Children between 7 and 9 years old were given positive information about 1 novel animal, negative information about another, and no information about the 3rd. A pictorial dot-probe task was used, immediately or with a 24-hr delay, to test for attentional biases to the different animals. The results replicated the finding that fear information changes children's fear beliefs. Regardless of whether there was a delay, children acquired an attentional bias in the left visual field toward the animal about which they held negative beliefs compared to the control animal. These results imply a possible way in which fear information might contribute to acquired fear.

A computational model of prefrontal cortical and hippocampal function, and their interaction in behavioral tasks

The present study examined whether threat-related selective attention was predictive of treatment success in children with anxiety disorders and whether age moderated this association. Specific components of selective attention were examined in treatment responders and nonresponders.Participants consisted of 131 children with anxiety disorders (aged 8–16 years), who received standardized cognitive-behavioral therapy. At pretreatment, a pictorial dot-probe task was administered to assess selective attention. Both at pretreatment and posttreatment, diagnostic status of the children was evaluated with a semistructured clinical interview (the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children).Selective attention for severely threatening pictures at pretreatment assessment was predictive of treatment success. Examination of the specific components of selective attention revealed that nonresponders showed difficulties to disengage their attention away from severe threat. Treatment responders showed a tendency not to engage their attention toward severe threat. Age was not associated with selective attention and treatment success.Threat-related selective attention is a significant predictor of treatment success in children with anxiety disorders. Clinically anxious children with difficulties disengaging their attention away from severe threat profit less from cognitive-behavioral therapy. For these children, additional training focused on learning to disengage attention away from anxiety-arousing stimuli may be beneficial.