May I have your attention, please? Methodological and Analytical Flexibility in the Addiction Stroop

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Jones ◽  
Jay Duckworth ◽  
Paul Christiansen
Keyword(s):  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Stroop Task ◽  
Gold Standard ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Design Decisions ◽  
Key Press ◽  
Individual Reaction ◽  
Overall Performance

Theoretical models of addiction predict that an attentional bias towards drug/alcohol related cues plays a key role in development and maintenance of addictive behaviours. However, data from the empirical research testing these predictions is equivocal. This ambiguity may in part be a consequence of substantial variability in the methods used to operationalise attentional bias. The aim of this research was to examine the variability in key design and analysis decisions of the addiction Stroop. Using a pre-registered design, we systematically searched the literature and identified 46 studies describing an alcohol Stroop task and 25 studies describing a smoking Stroop task. We extracted information about the design of the Stroop task, including but not limited to; administration (paper-and-pencil vs. computerised), response (key press vs. voice), number of drug-related stimuli used, number of stimulus repetitions, design (block vs. mixed). For analysis decisions we extracted information on upper- and lower-bound reaction time cut-offs, removal of individual reaction times based on standard error cut-offs, removal of participants based on overall performance, type of outcome used, and removal of errors. Based on variability from previous research there are at least 1,451,520 different possible designs of the computerised alcohol Stroop and 77,760 designs of the computerised smoking Stroop. Many key design decisions were unreported. Similarly, variability in analyses decisions would allow for 9,000 different methods for analysing the alcohol Stroop and 5,376 for the smoking Stroop. This flexibility in the design and analysis of a widely used measure of attentional bias may contribute to equivocal findings, unreliable tasks and inability to replicate research. Future research should work towards a gold standard addiction Stroop with reliable psychometric properties. This will allow us to confidently test predictions and lead to progress within the field.

scholarly journals Measuring Food-Related Attentional Bias

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Franja ◽  
Anna E. McCrae ◽  
Tina Jahnel ◽  
Ashley N. Gearhardt ◽  
Stuart G. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Test Reliability ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Retest Reliability ◽  
Probe Task ◽  
Visual Probe ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

Objective: Food-related attentional bias has been defined as the tendency to give preferential attention to food-related stimuli. Attentional bias is of interest as studies have found that increased attentional bias is associated with obesity; others, however, have not. A possible reason for mixed results may be that there is no agreed upon measure of attentional bias: studies differ in both measurement and scoring of attentional bias. Additionally, little is known about the stability of attentional bias over time. The present study aims to compare attentional bias measures generated from commonly used attentional bias tasks and scoring protocols, and to test re-test reliability.Methods: As part of a larger study, 69 participants (67% female) completed two food-related visual probe tasks at baseline: lexical (words as stimuli), and pictorial (pictures as stimuli). Reaction time bias scores (attentional bias scores) for each task were calculated in three different ways: by subtracting the reaction times for the trials where probes replaced (1) neutral stimuli from the trials where the probes replaced all food stimuli, (2) neutral stimuli from the trials where probes replaced high caloric food stimuli, and (3) neutral stimuli from low caloric food stimuli. This resulted in three separate attentional bias scores for each task. These reaction time results were then correlated. The pictorial visual probe task was administered a second time 14-days later to assess test-retest reliability.Results: Regardless of the scoring use, lexical attentional bias scores were minimal, suggesting minimal attentional bias. Pictorial task attentional bias scores were larger, suggesting greater attentional bias. The correlation between the various scores was relatively small (r = 0.13–0.20). Similarly, test-retest reliability for the pictorial task was poor regardless of how the test was scored (r = 0.20–0.41).Conclusion: These results suggest that at least some of the variation in findings across attentional bias studies could be due to differences in the way that attentional bias is measured. Future research may benefit from either combining eye-tracking measurements in addition to reaction times.

Effects of Thought Suppression on Subliminally and Supraliminally Presented Food-related Stimuli

2003 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J.N. Dejonckheere ◽  
Caroline Braet ◽  
Barbara Soetens
Keyword(s):  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Stroop Task ◽  
Thought Suppression ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
The Other ◽  
Dietary Behaviour ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Modified Stroop ◽  
Experimental Group

AbstractThis study investigates whether hyperaccessibility occurs for supraliminally or subliminally presented sweets-related stimuli after prior suppression of thoughts about sweets. Thirty-three students (all female; 18—25 years old) participated in the experiment. In the first phase, half of the experimental group was instructed to suppress all sweets-related thoughts. The other participants were given control instructions. In the second phase, as part of a modified Stroop task, participants were asked to state the colour of a stimulus as quickly as possible. This stimulus could be presented either subliminally or supraliminally. In both conditions, neutral control words as well as sweets words were used. It was found that the participants in the suppression group, compared to those in the control group, showed attentional bias for the sweet-related suppressed thoughts, but that this effect was determined by the reaction times of subliminally presented sweets words. No differences were found for the control words. In addition, the study explored whether there was a relationship between thought suppression and dietary restraint attitudes. The link to dietary behaviour, however, remains unclear.

Examining Attentional Bias in Scrupulosity: Null Findings From the Dot Probe Paradigm

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 302-314
Author(s):  
Ryan J. Jacoby ◽  
Noah C. Berman ◽  
Robert Graziano ◽  
Jonathan S. Abramowitz
Keyword(s):  
Selective Attention ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Attentional Biases ◽  
Dot Probe ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Symptom ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Symptom

Research consistently demonstrates that individuals with anxiety symptoms exhibit attentional biases toward threatening stimuli using various computer-based tasks. However, the presence of attentional biases across obsessive-compulsive symptom presentations has been mixed and requires clarification. This study was the first to use the dot probe paradigm to investigate the association between scrupulosity symptoms (obsessions and compulsions having to do with religion and morality) and selective attention to scrupulosity-relevant lexical stimuli. Contrary to hypotheses, individuals with higher levels of scrupulosity did not selectively attend (i.e., have faster reaction times) to scrupulosity-specific threat words (e.g., hell) more so than to general threat or neutral words. Various potential explanations for these null findings, as well as directions for future research, are discussed.

scholarly journals Social Anxiety and Theory of Mind: A Comparison of Self-Report and Objective Measures

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arianna Kassi Paricos
Keyword(s):  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Reactivity Index ◽  
Objective Measures ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Scale Scores ◽  
The Relationship

This study aims to explore the relationship between social anxiety and Theory of Mind (ToM) ability. Findings are evaluated in the context of theoretical models (Clark & Wells, 1995; Heimberg et al., 2010), to aid improvement of the understanding of social anxiety disorder (SAD). Two hypotheses are proposed: (1) social anxiety will negatively associate with self-report and objective measures of ToM ability; (2) objective and self-report measures of ToM will be positively associated. Literature assessing the relationship between social anxiety and ToM has not produced consistent results and has exclusively focused on ToM decoding and reasoning ability. This study is the first to explore the relationship between social anxiety, cognitive and affective ToM ability, and self-reported ToM ability. A correlational study was conducted (36 participants), comparing Social Interaction Anxiety Scale scores (SIAS; Mattick & Clarke, 1998) for social anxiety levels; Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) perspective-taking subscale scores for self-reported ToM ability (Davis, 1980); error rate (in millimeters) on the Paper and Pencil Sandbox Task (Coburn, Bernstein, & Begeer, 2015) for cognitive ToM ability; and reaction times on the Yoni Task (Shamay-Tsoory & Aharon-Peretz, 2007) for cognitive and affective ToM ability. Contrary to expectations, no significant relationships were found between any of the measures. The results prompt re-thinking regarding the mechanisms of SAD and offer insight into the complexity of the relationship between social anxiety and ToM ability. However, the implications can only be inferred within the context of the study limitations, these are discussed alongside recommendations for future research.

The Social Neuroscience of Cooperation

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Joseph Van Bavel
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
Social Neuroscience ◽  
Future Research ◽  
A Value ◽  
Group Cooperation ◽  
Neural Processes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Cooperative Decision Making

We review literature from several fields to describe common experimental tasks used to measure human cooperation as well as the theoretical models that have been used to characterize cooperative decision-making, as well as brain regions implicated in cooperation. Building on work in neuroeconomics, we suggest a value-based account may provide the most powerful understanding the psychology and neuroscience of group cooperation. We also review the role of individual differences and social context in shaping the mental processes that underlie cooperation and consider gaps in the literature and potential directions for future research on the social neuroscience of cooperation. We suggest that this multi-level approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of the mental and neural processes that underlie the decision to cooperate with others.

Cancer and Cancer Treatment-Related Cognitive Impairment

2019 ◽  
pp. 60-83
Author(s):  
James C.  Root ◽  
Elizabeth Ryan ◽  
Tim A. Ahles
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Functional Neuroimaging ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Central Nervous System Cancer ◽  
Pharmacologic Treatments

As the population of cancer survivors has grown into the millions, there is increasing emphasis on understanding how late effects of treatment impact survivors’ ability return to work/school, ability to function and live independently, and overall quality of life. Cognitive changes are one of the most feared problems among cancer survivors. This chapter describes the growing literature examining cognitive changes associated with non-central nervous system cancer and cancer treatment. Typical elements of cancer treatment are discussed, followed by a description of clinical presentation, self-reported and objectively assessed cognitive findings, and results of structural and functional neuroimaging research. Genetic and other risk factors for cognitive decline following treatment are identified and discussed, together with biomarkers and animal models of treatment-related effects. This is followed by a discussion of behavioral and pharmacologic treatments. Finally, challenges and recommendations for future research are provided to help guide subsequent research and theoretical models.

Emerging Syndromes

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly C. Allison ◽  
Jennifer D. Lundgren
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Night Eating Syndrome ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Night Eating ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Impairment In Functioning ◽  
Atypical Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Comorbid Psychopathology

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fifth edition, of the American Psychiatric Association (2013) has designated several disorders under the diagnosis of otherwise specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED). This chapter evaluates three of these, night eating syndrome (NES), purging disorder (PD), and atypical anorexia nervosa (atypical AN). It also reviews orthorexia nervosa, which has been discussed in the clinical realm as well as the popular press. The history and definition for each is reviewed, relevant theoretical models are presented and compared, and evidence for the usefulness of the models is described. Empirical studies examining the disorders’ independence from other disorders, comorbid psychopathology, and, when available, medical comorbidities, are discussed. Distress and impairment in functioning seem comparable between at least three of these emerging disorders and threshold eating disorders. Finally, remaining questions for future research are summarized.

scholarly journals THE PERCEPTION OF ARABIC VOWEL DURATION BY L1 HEBREW SPEAKERS

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Yael Zaltz ◽  
Osnat Segal
Keyword(s):  
Training Session ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Discrimination Performance ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Vowel Duration ◽  
Arabic Speakers ◽  
Native Arabic Speakers ◽  
Phonological Contrasts ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Phonological System

Abstract The acquisition of a second language (L2) may be challenging in adulthood, as the phonological system of the native language (L1) can sometimes limit the perception of phonological contrasts in L2. The present study aimed to (a) examine the influence of an L1 (Hebrew) that lacks a phonemic contrast for vowel length on the ability to discriminate between short and long vowels in L2 (Arabic); and (b) assess the effect of a short training on the participants’ discrimination performance. A total of 60 participants, 20 native Arabic speakers and 40 native Hebrew speakers, were tested using the ABX procedure in two sessions that were 10 days apart. A single training session was provided for half of the Hebrew speakers (n = 20) approximately 2–3 days after the first (pretraining) testing session. The results indicated that the trained Hebrew participants’ discrimination levels (measured by accuracy and reaction times) were above chance level but were nevertheless lower in comparison to the Arabic speakers. However, a short training session was sufficient to yield a nativelike performance that generalized to untrained nonwords. These findings support the theoretical models that predict a reserved ability to acquire new phonetic/phonological cues in L2 and have important practical implications for the process of learning a new phonological system in adulthood.

scholarly journals The effect of high-frequency rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on the resolution of response, semantic and task conflict in the colour-word Stroop task

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin A. Parris ◽  
Michael G. Wadsley ◽  
Gizem Arabaci ◽  
Nabil Hasshim ◽  
Maria Augustinova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Stroop Task ◽  
Word Reading ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Task Conflict ◽  
General Effect ◽  
Task Set ◽  
Left Dlpfc ◽  
Dorsolateral Prefrontal

AbstractPrevious work investigating the effect of rTMS of left Dorso-Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) on Stroop task performance reports no changes to the Stroop effect but reduced reaction times on both congruent and incongruent trials relative to sham stimulation; an effect attributed to an enhanced attentional (or task) set for colour classification. The present study tested this account by investigating whether, relative to vertex stimulation, rTMS of the left DLPFC modifies task conflict, a form of conflict that arises when task sets for colour classification and word reading compete, given that this particular type of conflict would be reduced by an enhanced task set for colour classification. Furthermore, the present study included measures of other forms of conflict present in the Stroop task (response and semantic conflict), the potential effects on which would have been hidden in previous studies employing only incongruent and congruent stimuli. Our data showed that left DLPFC stimulation had no effect on the magnitude of task conflict, nor did it affect response, semantic or overall conflict (where the null is supported by sensitive Bayes Factors in most cases). However, consistent with previous research left DLPFC stimulation had the general effect of reducing reaction times. We, therefore, show for the first time that relative to real vertex stimulation left DLPFC stimulation does not modify Stroop interference. Alternative accounts of the role of the left DLPFC in Stroop task performance in which it either modifies response thresholds or facilitates responding by keeping the correct response keys active in working memory are discussed.

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