Cognitive biases to appearance-related stimuli in body dissatisfaction: A systematic review

Objective: Those with eating disorders (EDs) show attentional biases to disorder-relevant stimuli, such as food and body shape information. However, attentional bias research in EDs largely relies on reaction time based measures, which are limited in their ability to assess different components and the time course of attention. Eye-tracking paradigms have therefore been utilized to provide greater ecological validity, and directly capture the detailed sequence of processes in perception and attention. While numerous studies have examined eye movements in the mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders, there has been a lack of studies in EDs. The purpose of this qualitative review is to provide a summary of eye-tracking studies in clinical ED populations.Method: The review was conducted using the PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases were systematically searched to identify studies examining gaze parameters in ED compared to healthy controls (HCs). Thirty-one studies met inclusion criteria.Results: Across ED diagnoses, there was evidence of attentional biases towards food and body stimuli. In addition, differential patterns of attention to social information, and differences in smooth pursuit and saccadic eye movements were found in anorexia nervosa (AN).Discussion: Findings are discussed in relation to research in other psychiatric disorders, and recommendations for future studies using eye-tracking in EDs are given. The findings add to the wider literature on attentional biases in EDs, and provide potential avenues for treatment.Discusión: Los hallazgos se discuten en relación con la investigación en otros trastornos psiquiátricos, y se dan recomendaciones para futuros estudios que utilizan el seguimiento ocular en los TCA. Los hallazgos se suman a la literatura más amplia sobre los sesgos de atención en los TCA y proporcionan posibles vías para el tratamiento. K E Y W O R D Sattentional biases, body image, eating disorders, eye gaze, eye movements, social perception

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Eye‐tracking research in eating disorders: A systematic review

Kerr-Gaffney

Harrison

Tchanturia

2018

“…Research consistently shows that eating disorder risk is associated with the perception of ambiguous stimuli to be negatively related to one's appearance (Brockmeyer et al, 2018;Rodgers & DuBois, 2016) and self-worth (e.g., Cooper, 2005;Cooper & Cowen, 2009;Pringle, Harmer, & Cooper 2010). Research consistently shows that eating disorder risk is associated with the perception of ambiguous stimuli to be negatively related to one's appearance (Brockmeyer et al, 2018;Rodgers & DuBois, 2016) and self-worth (e.g., Cooper, 2005;Cooper & Cowen, 2009;Pringle, Harmer, & Cooper 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A new cognitive bias modification technique to influence risk factors for eating disorders

Matheson

Wade

Yiend

2018

The results support the usefulness of the CBM-I for appearance protocol, and suggests that this technique warrants further investigation with respect to modifying interpretation bias and risk factors associated with eating disorder psychopathology. Null effects of CBM-I for self-worth should be interpreted in light of study limitations, including the potential unsuitability of training material for young women. CBM-I for both types of interpretation bias should be evaluated in future research.

“…Previous research suggests that eating disorder (ED) patients pay more attention to body‐related information than to other sorts of information (Rodgers & DuBois, ). This phenomenon is known as attentional bias (AB) (Williamson, White, York‐Crowe, & Stewart, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of gender and body dissatisfaction on body‐related attentional bias: An eye‐tracking and virtual reality study

Porras-García

Ferrer-García

Ghiţă

et al. 2019

Objective In the attentional bias (AB) phenomenon, eating disorder (ED) patients show a tendency to pay more attention to self‐attributed unattractive body parts than to other body parts. However, little research has focused on gender differences in body‐related attention, controlling for body dissatisfaction (BD). This study aimed to assess gender differences in AB toward specific weight‐ or nonweight‐related body parts using a virtual reality (VR)‐based embodiment technique and an eye‐tracking AB assessment. Method Forty‐five women (23 with high BD and 22 with low BD) and 40 men (20 with high BD and 20 with low BD) were subsequently embodied in three virtual avatars, the first based on the participant's actual measurements, the second being larger than the participant, and the third being the same as the first avatar. The number of fixations and complete fixation time on weight‐related areas of interest (W‐AOIs) and nonweight‐related areas of interest (NW‐AOIs) were recorded for the three assessment time/avatars. Results The results showed a statistically significant interaction between gender and time for total fixation time and number of fixations (p < .05). BD levels did not significantly affect the results. Overall, women paid more attention to the W‐AOIs than men, who in turn paid more attention to the NW‐AOIs. Furthermore, preliminary evidence was found for an AB toward muscular‐related AOIs among men. Conclusions This study provides new information about gender differences and BD in gaze pattern behaviors. Future psychological ED assessments and treatments could take advantage of the possibilities of VR while real‐time AB is objectively measured.