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. 2009 Dec;23(8):1080-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2009.07.010. Epub 2009 Jul 14.

Temporal allocation of attention toward threat in individuals with posttraumatic stress symptoms

Nader Amir  1 , Charles T Taylor, Jessica A Bomyea, Christal L Badour
Affiliations

Temporal allocation of attention toward threat in individuals with posttraumatic stress symptoms

Nader Amir et al. J Anxiety Disord. 2009 Dec.

Abstract

Research suggests that individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) selectively attend to threat-relevant information. However, little is known about how initial detection of threat influences the processing of subsequently encountered stimuli. To address this issue, we used a rapid serial visual presentation paradigm (RSVP; Raymond, J. E., Shapiro, K. L., & Arnell, K. M. (1992). Temporary suppression of visual processing in an RSVP task: An attentional blink? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 18, 849-860) to examine temporal allocation of attention to threat-related and neutral stimuli in individuals with PTSD symptoms (PTS), traumatized individuals without PTSD symptoms (TC), and non-anxious controls (NAC). Participants were asked to identify one or two targets in an RSVP stream. Typically processing of the first target decreases accuracy of identifying the second target as a function of the temporal lag between targets. Results revealed that the PTS group was significantly more accurate in detecting a neutral target when it was presented 300 or 500ms after threat-related stimuli compared to when the target followed neutral stimuli. These results suggest that individuals with PTSD may process trauma-relevant information more rapidly and efficiently than benign information.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The order of stimuli presentation within each trial.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Pattern of attentional blink for PTSD group.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pattern of attentional blink for TC group.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pattern of attentional blink for NAC group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (4th ed.), Text Revision. Washington, DC: Author; 2000.
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    1. Arnell KM, Jolicoeur P. The attentional blink across stimuli modalities: Evidence for central processing limitations. Journal of Experimental Psychology:Human Perception and Performance. 1999;25:1–19.

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