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ERP correlates of attentional processing in spider fear: evidence of threat-specific hypervigilance
Citation
Venetacci, R and Johnstone, A and Kirkby, KC and Matthews, A, ERP correlates of attentional processing in spider fear: evidence of threat-specific hypervigilance, Cognition and Emotion, 32, (3) pp. 437-449. ISSN 0269-9931 (2018) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2017 Informa UK Limited
DOI: doi:10.1080/02699931.2017.1310717
Abstract
Attentional bias towards threat can be demonstrated by enhanced processing of threat-related targets and/or greater interference when threat-related distractors are present. These effects are argued to reflect processing within the orienting and executive control networks of the brain respectively. This study investigated behavioural (RT) and electrophysiological correlates of early selective attention and top-down attentional control among females with high (n = 16) or low (n = 16) spider fear (Mean age = 22 years). Participants completed a novel flanker go/nogo task in which a central schematic flower or spider stimulus was flanked by either congruent or incongruent distractors. Participants responded to green stimuli (go trials) and withheld response to yellow stimuli (nogo trials). High fear participants demonstrated significantly shorter reaction times and greater P1 amplitude to spider targets, suggesting specific hypervigilance towards threat-relevant stimuli. In contrast to predictions, there was little evidence for behavioural interference effects or differences in N2 amplitude when distractor stimuli were threat-relevant.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | spider fear, ERPs, attentional bias, flanker, P1, N2 |
Research Division: | Psychology |
Research Group: | Applied and developmental psychology |
Research Field: | Applied and developmental psychology not elsewhere classified |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in psychology |
UTAS Author: | Johnstone, A (Miss Amber Johnstone) |
UTAS Author: | Kirkby, KC (Professor Kenneth Kirkby) |
UTAS Author: | Matthews, A (Dr Allison Matthews) |
ID Code: | 115893 |
Year Published: | 2018 (online first 2017) |
Deposited By: | Psychology |
Deposited On: | 2017-04-19 |
Last Modified: | 2018-08-13 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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