Anxiety-related attentional biases and their regulation by attentional control.

Abstract

This study examined the role of self-reported attentional control in regulating attentional biases related to trait anxiety. Simple detection targets were preceded by cues labeling potential target locations as threatening (likely to result in negative feedback) or safe (likely to result in positive feedback). Trait anxious participants showed an early attentional bias favoring the threatening location 250 ms after the cue and a late bias favoring the safe location 500 ms after the cue. The anxiety-related threat bias was moderated by attentional control at the 500-ms delay: Anxious participants with poor attentional control still showed the threat bias, whereas those with good control were better able to shift from the threatening location. Thus, skilled control of voluntary attention may allow anxious persons to limit the impact of threatening information.

A Systematic Literature Review of Emotion Regulation Measurement in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…For example, Samyn, Roeyers, and Bijttebier [2011] used the Early Adolescent Temperament Questionnaire-Revised [EATQ-R; Ellis & Rothbart, 2001], to assess inhibitory, attentional, and activation control; the Effortful Control Scale [ECS; Lonigan & Phillips, 2001], to assess the behavioral and attention components of ER; and the Attentional Control Scale [ACS; Derryberry & Reed, 2002], to measure self-reported ability to focus and shift attention according to various situational demands (see Table 1). …”

Exploring the function of selective attention and hypervigilance for threat in anxiety

“…Findings of delayed disengagement have been observed for angry faces in individuals with high levels of state anxiety (Fox, et al 2001), social threat words in individuals with social phobia (Amir, Elias, Klumpp, & Przeworski, 2003) and emotional (angry and happy) faces in individuals with high levels of trait anxiety (Fox, et al 2002). Furthermore, there is evidence to indicate that difficulties disengaging from threat are especially pronounced in individuals reporting high levels of trait anxiety in conjunction with low levels of attentional control (Derryberry & Reed, 2002). These studies did not provide any evidence to support the proposition of rapid Running Head: ANXIETY, SELECTIVE ATTENTION AND HYPERVIGILANCE engagement with threat in individuals high in state or trait anxiety or individuals with social phobia.…”

The influence of cognitive control training on stress reactivity and rumination in response to a lab stressor and naturalistic stress

“…Both measures exhibit adequate psychometric properties (Treynor et al, 2003;van Rijsoort, Emmelkamp, & Vervaeke, 1999 Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988) to assess positive and negative affective states, comprising 10 items each. Self-reported attentional control was measured using the 20-item Attentional Control Scale (ACS-NL; Derryberry & Reed, 2002;Verwoerd, Cieraad, & de Jong, 2007). The ACS shows adequate psychometric properties (Judah, Grant, Mills, & Lechner, 2014).…”