An electrophysiological investigation of attentional bias in a PTSD population.

Shah, Dhrasti; Cameron, Colin; Smith, Dylan M.; Jaworska, Natalia; Blais, Crystal; Fisher, Derek J.; Knott, Verner

doi:10.1037/tra0000339

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…Finally, PTSD+ display greater P2 amplitude to angry faces than PTSD− post- as opposed to pre-deployment (65). With respect to P3 differences, PTSD+ display longer frontocentral P3 latency to happy faces than PTSD− with history of trauma (99) as well as larger P3 amplitude to neutral than angry faces during a dot probe task (71). During later elaborative processing, PTSD symptoms in combat veterans are linked to smaller LPP amplitude to angry faces (66, 78, 79).…”

Section: Event Related Potential Markers Of Trauma Experience and Posmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Electrical Aftermath: Brain Signals of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Filtered Through a Clinical Lens

et al. 2019

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This review aims to identify patterns of electrical signals identified using electroencephalography (EEG) linked to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis and symptom dimensions. We filter EEG findings through a clinical lens, evaluating nuances in findings according to study criteria and participant characteristics. Within the EEG frequency domain, greater right than left parietal asymmetry in alpha band power is the most promising marker of PTSD symptoms and is linked to exaggerated physiological arousal that may impair filtering of environmental distractors. The most consistent findings within the EEG time domain focused on event related potentials (ERPs) include: 1) exaggerated frontocentral responses (contingent negative variation, mismatch negativity, and P3a amplitudes) to task-irrelevant distractors, and 2) attenuated parietal responses (P3b amplitudes) to task-relevant target stimuli. These findings suggest that some individuals with PTSD suffer from attention dysregulation, which could contribute to problems concentrating on daily tasks and goals in lieu of threatening distractors. Future research investigating the utility of alpha asymmetry and frontoparietal ERPs as diagnostic and predictive biomarkers or intervention targets are recommended.

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Section: Event Related Potential Markers Of Trauma Experience and Posmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Electrical Aftermath: Brain Signals of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Filtered Through a Clinical Lens

et al. 2019

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“…On a neurophysiological level, we found diverging result patterns for PTSD and anxiety: A greater P1 in the friend than in the stranger condition predicted greater PTSD symptoms, whereas a greater P1 and N1 in the stranger than in the friend condition was correlated with greater anxiety. Although diverging, both of these patterns have been found in traumatized samples: Shah et al ( 2018 ) found a reduced P1 for non-threatening as opposed to threatening stimuli in PTSD patients, whereas others (Fang et al, 2019 ; Zhang et al, 2014 ) have found a greater P1 and N1 for threatening as opposed to non-threatening stimuli in traumatized individuals. Based on these findings, one could speculate that attentional avoidance in the presence of an approaching stranger – representing potential threat – might predispose traumatized individuals towards PTSD development, whereas hypervigilant attention towards an approaching strangers – representing potential threat – could be a precursor to the development of anxiety after trauma.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By contrast, two studies (Fang et al, 2019 ; Zhang, Kong, Han, Ul Hasan, & Chen, 2014 ) found an opposing pattern, indicating hypervigilant attention (greater P1 and N1) for threatening as opposed to non-threatening stimuli in traumatized individuals (for a more detailed account on attentional processing in PTSD see e.g. Shah et al, 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…No study to date has investigated these ERPs in PTSD patients during IRD. However, PTSD patients have shown a similar pattern of attentional avoidance (attenuated P1) while processing threatening as opposed to non-threatening stimuli (Shah et al, 2018 ). By contrast, two studies (Fang et al, 2019 ; Zhang, Kong, Han, Ul Hasan, & Chen, 2014 ) found an opposing pattern, indicating hypervigilant attention (greater P1 and N1) for threatening as opposed to non-threatening stimuli in traumatized individuals (for a more detailed account on attentional processing in PTSD see e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With respect to attentional processing prior to IDR, the lack of relevant literature precludes testing any hypothesis. However, we explored two potential result patterns: Based on Shah et al ( 2018 ), a pattern of attentional avoidance could be evident when individuals with PTSD symptoms are confronted with potential threat as evident when approached by a stranger. Such attentional avoidance would be reflected in a greater N1 and P1 for the friend than for the stranger condition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

No distance is too far between friends: associations of comfortable interpersonal distance with PTSD and anxiety symptoms in Israeli firefighters

Haim-Nachum

Sopp

Michael

et al. 2021

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: Previous research indicates that PTSD patients may show alterations in interpersonal distance regulation (IDR). However, it is not clear whether altered IDR is correlated with psychopathology after trauma and whether attentional processes might be involved in these alterations. Objective: The current study investigated IDR and attentional processing in a sample of Israeli firefighters. Method: Twenty-four participants completed an experimental IDR task as well as measures of PTSD and anxiety. During the task, event-related potentials were recorded to assess attentional processing as reflected in the P1 and N1 components. Results: Participants who did not choose a closer distance towards friends than strangers experienced greater anxiety. Moreover, participants who showed attentional avoidance towards strangers reported more PTSD symptoms. By contrast, participants who showed hypervigilant attention towards strangers reported greater anxiety. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate an association between IDR, PTSD, and anxiety after trauma. Future studies should re-investigate these associations in larger samples and explore potential implications for prevention and treatment.

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Multi‐method assessment of irritability and differential linkages to neurophysiological indicators of attention allocation to emotional faces in young children

Deveney

Grasso

Hsu

et al. 2019

Developmental Psychobiology

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Facilitated attention toward angry stimuli (attention bias) may contribute to anger proneness and temper outbursts exhibited by children with high irritability. However, most studies linking attention bias and irritability rely on behavioral measures with limited precision and no studies have explored these associations in young children. The present study explores irritability‐related attention biases toward anger in young children (N = 128; ages 4–7 years) engaged in a dot‐probe task with emotional faces, as assessed with event‐related brain potential (ERP) indices of early selective attention and multi‐method assessment of irritability. Irritability assessed via semi‐structured clinical interview predicted larger anterior N1 amplitudes to all faces. In contrast, irritability assessed via a laboratory observation paradigm predicted reduced P1 amplitudes to angry relative to neutral faces. These findings suggest that altered early attentional processing occurs in young children with high irritability; however, the nature of these patterns may vary with methodological features of the irritability assessments. Future investigations using different assessment tools may provide greater clarity regarding the underlying neurocognitive correlates of irritability. Such studies may also contribute to the ongoing debates about how to best define and measure irritability across the developmental spectrum in a manner that is most informative for linkage to neural processes.

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An electrophysiological investigation of attentional bias in a PTSD population.

Abstract: The present study provided no support for facilitated engagement in this sample of patients. Possible interpretations of the results related to differential processing of target probes replacing angry-neutral face pairs are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record

Cited by 6 publications

References 71 publications

The Electrical Aftermath: Brain Signals of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Filtered Through a Clinical Lens

The Electrical Aftermath: Brain Signals of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Filtered Through a Clinical Lens

No distance is too far between friends: associations of comfortable interpersonal distance with PTSD and anxiety symptoms in Israeli firefighters

Multi‐method assessment of irritability and differential linkages to neurophysiological indicators of attention allocation to emotional faces in young children

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