Early and late dot‐probe attentional bias to mild and high threat pictures: Relations with EEG theta/beta ratio, self‐reported trait attentional control, and trait anxiety

Abstract

Frontal EEG theta/beta ratio (TBR; negatively associated with attentional control, or AC) was previously reported to moderate threat-level dependent attentional bias in a pictorial dot-probe task, interacting with trait anxiety. Unexpectedly, this was independent from processing stage (using cue-target delays of 200 and 500 ms) and also not observed for self-reported trait AC. We therefore aimed to replicate these effects of TBR and trait anxiety and to test if effects of early versus late processing stages are evident for shorter cue-target delays. This study also revisited the hypothesis that TBR and self-reported trait AC show similar effects. Fifty-three participants provided measurements of frontal TBR, self-reported trait AC, trait anxiety, and dot-probe task bias for mild and high threat pictures using the same dot-probe task, but this time with 80- and 200-ms cue-target delays. Results indicated that higher TBR predicted more attention to mild than high threat, but this was independent from trait anxiety or delay. Lower self-reported trait AC predicted more attention to mild than high threat, only after 200 ms (also independent of trait anxiety). We conclude that the moderating effect of TBR on threat-level dependent dot-probe task bias was replicated, but not the role of trait anxiety, and this study partially confirms that effects of trait AC are more dominant in later processing.

Electroencephalography theta/beta ratio covaries with mind wandering and functional connectivity in the executive control network

“…[14][15][16] TBR also correlated negatively with objectively measured AC. 17 Higher TBR has also been related to more reward-motivated decision making that requires executive reversal learning and inhibition of dominant approach−motivated behavior [18][19][20] and to lower trait anxiety, 10,14,15 also implying potential benefits of having a higher TBR. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that TBR is related to a variety of psychological functions that require prefrontal executive regulation of emotional and motivational processes that are likely subcortically mediated.…”

“…Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) provides measures of neural oscillatory activity in different frequency bands, such as the slow theta (4-7 Hz) and faster beta (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30). Lubar 1 reported higher theta/beta ratio (TBR) in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder, which has been frequently replicated since (e.g., see Refs.…”

“…For instance, TBR is negatively related to functions requiring prefrontal executive control (EC): modulation of response inhibition in an emotional go/no-go task 10 and downregulation of negative affect. 11 In healthy samples, TBR correlated negatively with self-reported doi: 10.1111/nyas.14180 trait 10,[12][13][14] and state attentional control (AC) 12 and with the controlled modulation of threat-selective attention. [14][15][16] TBR also correlated negatively with objectively measured AC.…”

“…11 In healthy samples, TBR correlated negatively with self-reported doi: 10.1111/nyas.14180 trait 10,[12][13][14] and state attentional control (AC) 12 and with the controlled modulation of threat-selective attention. [14][15][16] TBR also correlated negatively with objectively measured AC. 17 Higher TBR has also been related to more reward-motivated decision making that requires executive reversal learning and inhibition of dominant approach−motivated behavior [18][19][20] and to lower trait anxiety, 10,14,15 also implying potential benefits of having a higher TBR.…”

“…Almost all previous studies examining TBR in relation to executive processes assessing healthy participants focused on frontal TBR, which is also the focus of the current study. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16]18,21,22 TBR is typically measured during several minutes of resting state, without manipulation of executive processes. Consequently, the evidence that TBR reflects EC functions remains indirect.…”