A neurocognitive account of attentional control theory: how does trait anxiety affect the brain’s attentional networks?

Eysenck, Michael W.; Moser, Jason S.; Derakshan, Nazanin; Hepsomali, Piril; Allen, Paul

doi:10.1080/02699931.2022.2159936

Cited by 30 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 122 publications

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“…during real-life situations. Accordingly, high-anxious individuals show reduced dlPFC efficiency during cognitive control compared to non-anxious individuals ( 33 ). It remains to be seen whether dual-site tACS in socially-anxious individuals can enhance dlPFC coordination with SMC and remain behaviorally effective even in the presence of multiple cognitive control demands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving emotion control in social anxiety by targeting rhythmic brain activity

Meijer,

Bramson,

Toni

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Avoidance behavior is a major causal and maintaining factor in anxiety. As anxious individuals avoid social situations, their fear cannot be extinguished and context-appropriate behavior cannot be learned. It has been shown that successful emotion control over social approach-avoidance actions relies on theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling between the lateral prefrontal cortex (lPFC) and the sensorimotor cortices (SMC). Emotional action control can also be facilitated by targeting theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling between lPFC and SMC using dual-site transcranial alternating current stimulation (dual-tACS), in non-anxious individuals (Bramson et al., 2020). However, it remains unclear whether this intervention is effective where it is needed: For instance, socially anxious individuals fail to recruit lPFC and rely on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) for emotional action control (Bramson et al., 2023). Here, we show that dual-tACS improves emotional action control in social anxiety, acting on dlPFC-SMC coupling instead of lPFC-SMC coupling. Forty-nine highly socially anxious individuals performed a social approach-avoidance task while receiving dual-site in-phase, anti-phase, and sham tACS. Concurrent BOLD fMRI measurements revealed that the neural response to tACS in dlPFC mediates improvement in emotional action control induced by the in-phase stimulation. Notably, the extent of dlPFC engagement scaled to individuals’ trait anxiety levels. These findings illustrate how human neurophysiological connectivity can be leveraged to improve emotion control over social avoidance, opening the way for mechanistically-grounded clinical interventions of persistent avoidance in anxiety disorders.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving emotion control in social anxiety by targeting rhythmic brain activity

Meijer,

Bramson,

Toni

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…When faced with a stressful situation, such as an exam, we do not react in the same way in attempting to manage our anxiety and optimize our abilities for success. Our experiences are specific to the situation but also to our predisposition to experiencing anxiety [ 1 , 2 ]. These anxious traits are characterized by worry, intrusive thoughts, physiological manifestations, and difficulty detaching from negative stimuli [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our experiences are specific to the situation but also to our predisposition to experiencing anxiety [ 1 , 2 ]. These anxious traits are characterized by worry, intrusive thoughts, physiological manifestations, and difficulty detaching from negative stimuli [ 2 ]. They would hinder the mobilization of a cognitive function that is particularly essential for learning and academic achievement: Working Memory (WM) [ 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At first glance, simple tasks may seem less relevant for research protocols focusing on the evaluation of the ACT. However, the ACT has primarily been studied at an algorithmic level rather than a reflexive level [ 2 , 22 ]. Toplak et al [ 23 ] sought to understand and explain the existing differences in measurements of executive functions (EFs).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Reflective Mind of the Anxious in Action: Metacognitive Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Regulation Strategies Constrain Working Memory Efficiency

Cécillon,

Mermillod,

Leys

et al. 2024

EJIHPE

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The Attentional Control Theory (ACT) posits that, while trait anxiety may not directly impact performance, it can influence processing efficiency by prompting the use of compensatory mechanisms. The specific nature of these mechanisms, which might be reflective, is not detailed by the ACT. In a study involving 110 students (M = 20.12; SD = 2.10), surveys were administered to assess the students’ metacognitive beliefs, trait anxiety, and emotion regulation strategies (ERSs). The participants engaged in two working memory exercises: the digit span task from the WAIS-IV and an emotional n-back task. The findings indicated that anxiety, metacognitive beliefs, and maladaptive ERSs did not affect task performance but were correlated with increased response times. Several regression analyses demonstrated that a lack of confidence in one’s cognitive abilities and maladaptive ERSs predict higher reaction times (RT) in the n-back task. Additionally, maladaptive ERSs also predict an increased use of strategies in the digit span task. Finally, two mediation analyses revealed that anxiety increases processing efficiency, and this relation is mediated by the use of maladaptive ERSs. These results underscore the importance of the reflective level in mediating the effects of trait anxiety on efficiency. They highlight the necessity of incorporating metacognitive beliefs and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies for a thorough comprehension of the Attentional Control Theory. Recognizing these factors offers valuable perspectives for enhancing cognitive capabilities and fostering academic achievement.

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“…For instance, Gundlach et al, 2022 demonstrated that participants with the greatest ssVEP amplitude facilitation towards an attended stimulus did not necessarily show the highest magnitude of ssVEP amplitude suppression to the unattended stimulus, supporting the idea that attentional engagement and disengagement are two separate processes and suggesting that individuals may exhibit various combinations of abilities in these processes. Furthermore, individual differences in attentional shifts have also been repeatedly linked to individual differences in several psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression (Eysenck et al, 2022; Koster et al, 2017). For instance, an individual’s unique attentional biases might lead them to overly focus on negative stimuli, potentially exacerbating anxiety, or depressive symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attentional Engagement and Disengagement: Quantifying Attentional Shifts Utilizing the Steady State Visual Evoked Potentials

Eidelman-Rothman,

Reuveni,

Keil

et al. 2023

Preprint

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In the present study we aimed to measure and discern between attentional shift processes. We utilized the frequency tagging technique in an experimental design that required participants to switch their attentional focus between four stimuli flickering in distinct frequencies, that were presented simultaneously in the same visual space. Through the analysis of steady-state visual-evoked potential (ssVEP) responses we were able to study the time course and temporal dynamics of different attentional shifts. Specifically, engagement with a to-be attended target, disengagement from a previously attended target and reengagement with a new target. Importantly, our experimental design and analysis allowed for measuring these processes not only on the group, but also on the individual subject level. On the group-level, both attentional disengagement and reengagement were evident, with the process of disengagement occurring prior to reengagement. Interestingly, on the individual subject level several distinct patterns of attentional shifts emerged: While a portion of participants mirrored the group-level trend, in other participants only attentional disengagement could be identified, in some only reengagement, and in others no discernible shifts could be found at all. Notably, the timing of these attentional shifts varied across individuals relative to target switch events. Echoing prior studies, our findings shed light on the independent and gradual nature of attentional shift processes and underscore the importance of examining these shifts at both the group and individual levels. Our study provides deeper insights into the neural mechanisms that drive attentional dynamics.

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A neurocognitive account of attentional control theory: how does trait anxiety affect the brain’s attentional networks?

Cited by 30 publications

References 122 publications

Improving emotion control in social anxiety by targeting rhythmic brain activity

Improving emotion control in social anxiety by targeting rhythmic brain activity

The Reflective Mind of the Anxious in Action: Metacognitive Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Regulation Strategies Constrain Working Memory Efficiency

Attentional Engagement and Disengagement: Quantifying Attentional Shifts Utilizing the Steady State Visual Evoked Potentials

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