Single-session attention bias modification and error-related brain activity

Abstract

An attentional bias to threat has been implicated in the etiology and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Recently, attention bias modification (ABM) has been shown to reduce threat biases and decrease anxiety. However, it is unclear whether ABM modifies neural activity linked to anxiety and risk. The current study examined the relationship between ABM and the error-related negativity (ERN), a putative biomarker of risk for anxiety disorders, and the relationship between the ERN and ABM-based changes in attention to threat. Fifty-nine participants completed a single-session of ABM and a flanker task to elicit the ERN—in counterbalanced order (i.e., ABM-before vs. ABM-after the ERN was measured). Results indicated that the ERN was smaller (i.e., less negative) among individuals who completed ABM-before relative to those who completed ABM-after. Furthermore, greater attentional disengagement from negative stimuli during ABM was associated with a smaller ERN among ABM-before and ABM-after participants. The present study suggests a direct relationship between the malleability of negative attention bias and the ERN. Explanations are provided for how ABM may contribute to reductions in the ERN. Overall, the present study indicates that a single-session of ABM may be related to a decrease in neural activity linked to anxiety and risk.

Spatiotemporal brain dynamics underlying attentional bias modifications

“…In line with these fMRI literature, event-related potential (ERP) studies indicate that ABM training influences both late latency attentional control and error-related frontal N2 and conflict resolution P3 components (Eldar and Bar-Haim, 2010;Nelson et al, 2015;O'Toole and Dennis, 2012;Suway et al, 2013). Attentional allocation is typically indexed by the N2pc ERP component, an occipital negativity contralateral to the side of an attended stimulus and manifesting between 180 and 300 ms post stimulus onset (Eimer and Kiss, 2008;Holmes et al, 2014;Kappenman et al, 2015;Kappenman et al, 2014;Osinsky et al, 2014;Reutter et al, 2017;Weymar et al, 2011).…”

“…Amir et al, 2008;Suway et al, 2013) and clinical populations (e.g. Attwood et al, 2008;Eldar and Bar-Haim, 2010;Field et al, 2009;Lopes et al, 2014;Schoenmakers et al, 2010;Shafran et al, 2008), only few examined the neural underpinnings of ABM (Britton et al, 2015;Browning et al, 2010;Eldar and Bar-Haim, 2010;Li et al, 2016;Nelson et al, 2015;O'Toole and Dennis, 2012;Osinsky et al, 2014;Suway et al, 2013).…”

Attention bias modification reduces neural correlates of response monitoring

“…In an attempt to replicate and extend Nelson et al (2015), the present study recruited a sample that was of similar size and demographic composition. To this end, the sample included 64 undergraduates from Stony Brook University who participated for course credit.…”

“…In a recent investigation, Nelson et al (2015) examined whether a single session of attention bias modification could reduce the ERN. Attention bias modification is a computerized intervention that trains attention away from negative stimuli and towards positive stimuli, and targets a core mechanism of dysfunction in anxiety disorders (i.e., attentional bias toward threat) (Bar-Haim, Lamy, Pergamin, Bakermans-Kranenburg, & van IJzendoorn, 2007).…”

“…Nelson et al (2015) provides a critical first indication that the ERN—a posited neural marker of threat sensitivity and risk for anxiety—can be altered by a computerized attention bias modification task. However, Nelson et al contained several methodological limitations that proscribe causal conclusions about the effect of attention bias modification on the ERN.…”