A systematic review of event‐related potentials as outcome measures of attention bias modification

Related Potentials ◽

Attention bias modification (ABM) was initially developed with the goal of reducing attentional bias to threat—and subsequently anxious symptoms—in individuals with heightened anxiety. Although controversial, ABM appears to be generally effective in achieving this goal. Yet, the primary outcome measure of ABM (i.e., the RT based differences score) has poor reliability and temporal resolution, which limits the inferences that can be drawn. In contrast, event-related potentials (ERPs) have superior reliability as well as temporal resolution and may therefore be better outcome measures of ABM. In this review, I systematically assess the research using ERPs as outcome measures in ABM protocols. I focus on the extent to which the ERPs modified by ABM represent earlier or later stages of information processing. In addition, I explore the extent to which ABM produces near and/or far transfer of learning effects on ERP measures. The reviewed literature suggests that ERPs are promising outcome measures of ABM. Both early attention-related processes as well as cognitive control processes are modulated by ABM. Based on the state of the field, several directions for future research are identified.

Effect of attention bias modification on event‐related potentials in patients with irritable bowel syndrome: A preliminary brain function and psycho‐behavioral study

Neurogastroenterology & Motility ◽

10.1111/nmo.13402 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (10) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Tayama ◽

T. Saigo ◽

S. Ogawa ◽

A. Takeoka ◽

T. Hamaguchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Irritable Bowel Syndrome ◽

Brain Function ◽

Attention Bias ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Behavioral Study ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Irritable Bowel ◽

The altered early components and the decisive later process underlying attention bias modification in social anxiety: evidence from event-related potentials

Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience ◽

10.1093/scan/nsz098 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 1307-1316 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dong-ni Pan ◽

Yi Wang ◽

Zheng Lei ◽

Yang Wang ◽

Xuebing Li

Keyword(s):

Social Anxiety ◽

Attention Bias ◽

Event Related Potentials ◽

Symptom Improvement ◽

Emotional Symptoms ◽

Training Groups ◽

Test Stage ◽

Related Potentials ◽

Abstract Attention bias modification (ABM) is a potential intervention in relieving social anxiety symptoms, while its underlying neural mechanisms are not yet understood. The current study included 63 college students with social anxiety. Participants were assigned to the attention modification program (AMP, n = 20), the attention control condition (ACC, n = 20) and the passive waiting group (PW, n = 23). Questionnaires and the emotional Stroop task with EEG recordings were used to assess whether and how the 4-week ABM period affected emotional symptoms and specific emotional processing. Results showed that the two training groups (AMP and ACC) produced comparable emotional improvements and both showed a decrease in negative bias compared with the PW group. The ERP results indicated that despite no significant ERP changes in the PW group, the ACC group exhibited a greater N1, whereas the AMP group exhibited a reduced VPP at the post-test stage compared to the pre-test stage. Besides, both training groups showed a similar late positive potential (LPP) reduction. Notably, the reduction in LPP was positively correlated with behavioral and symptom improvement. Thus, manipulations unique to ABM (face-target contingency) primarily modulate the early attention distribution of material-related stimuli. However, the clinical benefits of attention training may be due to later cognitive-affective mechanisms.

Attention bias modification (ABM) as a treatment for child and adolescent anxiety: A systematic review

Journal of Affective Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.jad.2014.06.051 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 168 ◽

pp. 125-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Helen Lowther ◽

Emily Newman

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Attention Bias ◽

Child And Adolescent ◽

Adolescent Anxiety ◽

Protocol for a Systematic Review of Gamified Attention Bias Interventions for Psychiatric Disorders (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.10154 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Zhang Melvyn ◽

Jiangbo Ying ◽

Roger CM Ho

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Attention Bias ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Qualitative Synthesis ◽

Technological Advances ◽

UNSTRUCTURED Background Attention biases are subconscious processes that tend to result in individuals having increased attention for threatening or stimuli with high salience. These biases have been posited to be involved in the psychopathologies of several psychiatric disorders. Technological advances have transformed how such interventions are being delivered. Gamification technologies are increasingly being used for bias modification, as it could help increase motivation to train and make these tasks more engaging. While there are published research on gamification and attention bias, there remains several gaps in knowledge. Objectives The primary objective of the review is thus to identify attention bias modification games that have been published in the literature and to synthesise the current evidence for such interventions and to identify, if possible, the rationale for gamification. The secondary objective is to determine if gamified attention or cognitive bias modification influences secondary outcomes measures, as such anxiety levels or severity of depressive symptoms. Methods To achieve the objective of this review, a systematic review will be undertaken. For the studies that are identified, they will be reviewed by independent assessors and screened against our predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Cochrane risk of bias tool will be used for assessment of the risk of biases in randomised trials that have been identified. The evidence will be synthesized by means of a qualitative synthesis. Results We expect that the review will be completed 12 months from the publication of this protocol. Conclusions This review is pertinent as it helps to provide an overview of the evidence base for gamified attention bias interventions. The findings from the current review will help in the future conceptualisation of gamified attention bias interventions.